Yvonne McLean
North Vancouver BC

Dear Ms. McLean:

Thank you for your letter of October 1, 2006 regarding the trapping of
beavers whose activities conflict with those of humans. As you are
aware, the relocation of beavers is not endorsed by the Ministry of
Environment.

In general, beaver populations in British Columbia are quite healthy.

Live trapping and relocation may seem like the most humane method of
removing a conflict beaver from an area. However, relocation is very
stressful for animals and often unsuccessful. In fact, it is not
uncommon for beavers to break their teeth and claws attempting to
escape. Releasing beavers with such injuries creates significant
hardships for them in their new habitat.

I assure you that the ministry encourages non-invasive strategies to
reduce beaver conflicts. We are actively supporting the use of pond
levellers, which can eliminate the need to remove beavers and prevent
property damage by regulating water levels in beaver ponds. There are
times when trapping is the only solution to human-beaver conflicts.

Thank you for writing and expressing your interest in the management of
wildlife in British Columbia.

Sincerely,

Barry Penner
Minister