Best Practices for Managing Human–Beaver Conflicts in North America: Balancing Ecological Benefits and Human Interests

Authors

• Alec J. Sundelius, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife ServicesFollow
• Jerry Altermatt, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• Doug Brimeyer, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• Derek J. Broman, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Jared Duquette, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Cory Mosby, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
• Falyn Owens, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
• Shawn Rossler, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• David B. Ruid, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services
• Brian F. Wakeling, Montana Fish, Wildlife and ParksFollow
• H. Bryant White, Arizona Game and Fish DepartmentFollow

Files

Description

We explore the complexities of managing beaver (Castor canadensis) conflicts in North America, describing the most common approaches used by natural resource management agencies to address conflicts. We identify specific conflicts caused by beavers, the ecological benefits beavers provide, and the tools commonly used to address conflicts. We discuss regional differences in beaver management strategies, including ecosystem restoration and conflict prevention. We specifically discuss a variety of management practices including public education, land use management, trapping, translocation, exclusion, shooting, dam removal, repellants, and harvest incentive programs; we then review the challenges and benefits of these tools. We discuss the need for integrated management strategies that maintain the ecological benefits created by beavers while addressing human–beaver conflicts.

Publisher

Berryman Institute

Publication Date

9-1-2026

Keywords

beaver, beaver management, ecological impact, flood mitigation, historical management trends, human–wildlife conflict, socio-political factors, translocation

Disciplines

Animal Sciences | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Sundelius, Alec J.; Altermatt, Jerry; Brimeyer, Doug; Broman, Derek J.; Duquette, Jared; Mosby, Cory; Owens, Falyn; Rossler, Shawn; Ruid, David B.; Wakeling, Brian F.; and White, H. Bryant, "Best Practices for Managing Human–Beaver Conflicts in North America: Balancing Ecological Benefits and Human Interests" (2026). Human–Wildlife Interactions Monographs. 6.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi_monographs/6