Tifft Nature Preserve Management Plan - Buffalo Museum of Science
Tifft Nature Preserve Management Plan - Buffalo Museum of Science
Tifft Nature Preserve Management Plan - Buffalo Museum of Science
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enefits and the habitat for other wildlife species that beaver impoundments create,<br />
higher population goals were established and beaver numbers grew over the past<br />
decades. In 1993, the DEC estimated there were about 17,500 active beaver colonies<br />
in the state which exceeded the population goal by 25%. Currently, many state wildlife<br />
management units are at or above their beaver management objectives and the<br />
property damage from beavers is in the millions <strong>of</strong> dollars annually. At <strong>Tifft</strong> <strong>Nature</strong><br />
<strong>Preserve</strong>, beavers plug the culvert under Old <strong>Tifft</strong> Street and build dams in the small<br />
stream flowing into Lake Kirsty. Beavers also create problems throughout the preserve<br />
by felling or chewing on trees, including some rather large cottonwood trees. The<br />
impact to the preserve’s trees is a particularly important long term issue to address<br />
since there is little recruitment <strong>of</strong> young trees due to heavy browsing by the large deer<br />
herd.<br />
The exact size <strong>of</strong> the beaver population on the preserve is unknown, but signs <strong>of</strong><br />
beavers are widespread. There is evidence <strong>of</strong> beaver activity around Beth Pond, the<br />
cattail marsh, and in the stream flowing into Lake Kirsty. A beaver family may reside in<br />
each <strong>of</strong> these areas for a maximum <strong>of</strong> three beaver colonies on the preserve. In<br />
Canada, the density <strong>of</strong> beaver colonies ranges from 0.33/km 2 in a population where<br />
trapping occurred to a high <strong>of</strong> 3.51/km 2 where “nuisance beavers” were present, with an<br />
average <strong>of</strong> 1.0-1.2/km 2 (Müller-Schwarze and Sun 2003). The preserve is 1.1 km 2 ,<br />
which would allow only one colony <strong>of</strong> beavers on the preserve to remain with natural<br />
population levels. The average colony in western New York is four beavers, but can<br />
reach as high as ten. A colony or family consists <strong>of</strong> two adults, two young <strong>of</strong> the year<br />
(on average), and occasionally two or more yearlings which tend to remain with the<br />
family when population densities are high and there are no vacant territories to disperse<br />
into (Müller-Schwarze and Sun 2003). Assuming all three areas with beaver activity<br />
each contain one colony, a population <strong>of</strong> between 12 and 30 beavers is a rough<br />
estimate for the preserve.<br />
Options for Preventing Beaver Damage<br />
Beaver damage is common throughout the state and the NYS DEC has<br />
developed a Nuisance Beaver Control Techniques Manual (http://www.dec.ny.gov/<br />
animals/6992.html) to assist landowners in minimizing damage and conflicts. Potential<br />
options presented in this manual will be outlined with their applicability at <strong>Tifft</strong> <strong>Nature</strong><br />
<strong>Preserve</strong> addressed. The beaver is a protected furbearer species and therefore all<br />
control <strong>of</strong> nuisance beaver or disturbance to their den or dam requires a permit under<br />
Article 11 <strong>of</strong> the New York State Environmental Conservation Law.<br />
Protecting Trees and Shrubs – Individual trees and shrubs can be protected by<br />
loosely wrapping to a minimum height <strong>of</strong> 3 feet (1 meter) with welded wire fencing,<br />
chicken wire, or ro<strong>of</strong>ing felt loose enough to allow for growth. Fencing may still leave<br />
some trees vulnerable to damage if beavers are active during deep snow. Fencing<br />
must be installed before serious damage to a tree occurs since a tree that is girdled<br />
(gnawed all the way around), but not felled, will still die. Many trees on the preserve<br />
have already been wrapped with chicken wire and successfully protected from damage.<br />
<strong>Tifft</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Preserve</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> 35