There are signs of beaver on all three of our lakes.   Although some volunteers stepped in during the fall of 2011 to take apart a beaver dam at the culvert between Lakes Oscaleta and Waccabuc, at that time the Three Lakes Council did not have a position on the beaver issue.  With new resident complaints in the spring of 2012, the Three Lakes Council established a task force chaired by Peter Gross and asked the task force to report.  They produced recommendations in an educational report.  We highly recommend that you read this comprehensive report and plan.

Beaver are likely to be visiting our lakes and may damage shoreside plantings.  Here’s what the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation recommends to protect any favorite trees or shrubs:  Individual shrubs and trees can be protected by loosely wrapping to a minimum height of 36 inches with welded wire fencing, zinc or plastic coated, or roofing felt held in place with string or wire.   Groups of shrubs or trees can be protected with 36 inch high fences made of welded wire, woven wire or 12 inch high tensile electrified wire with a minimum of 3 strands of wire spaced at 4 inch intervals.

Remember that beaver are wild animals.  Do not attempt to approach or feed them:  and like any animals, you certainly don’t want to get between a mama beaver and her kits!

We are looking for volunteers to help keep the culverts clean.  Please contact Joe Tansey who will set up a schedule for this work.  Also, anyone boating between the lakes can help keep the culverts passible by moving sticks and debris out of the water and onto the sides of the channel. 

Here are some informative links for more information on beaver. 

NYS DEC Nuisance Beaver http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6992.html

CT DEEP Beavers in Connecticut

Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver 

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/beavers.html

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources :  http://dnr.wi.gov/waterways/factsheets/beaverdamage.pdf

Beavers:  wetlands and wildlife:  http://www.beaversww.org/