Balancing Urban Development and Beaver Habitat

With many water bodies and streams in the city, balancing the natural elements of aquatic ecosystems with urban uses is an ongoing challenge. We recognize the many benefits that beavers provide to the ecosystem and our community. Therefore, we work diligently to find ways to coexist with the existing beaver population.

Summer Intern Program

Every summer, the City employs a small team of interns with backgrounds in natural resources to inspect most of Salem’s streams. The interns collect field data, including the locations of beaver dams and signs of beaver activity along the 60 miles of streams they inspect. If they identify potentially problematic beaver activity, they promptly report it to the Public Works Stormwater Quality staff. This team conducts further analysis and determines the appropriate response if needed.

Beaver Management Program

In general, the City only manages beaver dams that are on City-owned property or that impact City-owned infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. Currently, our beaver management program includes the following actions:

  • Monitoring Waterways: Regular inspections of streams and water bodies.

  • Developing Coexistence Strategies: Implementing strategies such as pond levelers to manage water levels without harming beavers.

  • Installing Protection: Putting tree and shrub protection on City-owned property to establish vegetation and protect significant trees.

  • Breaching Dams: Carefully breaching dams on public property that pose an imminent threat of flooding to infrastructure.

  • Hazing: Using hazing techniques to encourage beavers to move away from critical infrastructure, such as storm pipes and culverts, while modifications are made to keep them out.

If all other options fail and it is absolutely necessary, the City may contract with a Wildlife Control Operator to remove the beavers.

Legal Considerations

Beavers are classified as protected furbearers under Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 635-050-0050 and Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 496.004 and 498.158. If the City needs to trap or haze beavers on City of Salem property, we must contract with a Wildlife Control Operator. In some cases, a permit or coordination with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife may be required.