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Southern Alberta Beaver Survey: Assessing Knowledge and Perceptions about Beavers
This survey was created to assess knowledge and perceptions about beavers, their habitat and management in Alberta.
The information collected will be used to inform beaver management in Alberta, as well as help inform the development
of education materials and management tools.
This survey is being conducted in partnership by the Miistakis Institute and Cows and Fish (Alberta Riparian Habitat
Management Society), and will take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
Participation in this survey is voluntary and results will be aggregated and feedback will not be attributed to any
individuals. If you have questions about this written survey, please contact Nisha ([email protected] or 403-440-8444).
The results of this survey will be available in a formal report created after the survey period at: www.rockies.ca and
www.cowsandfish.org.
Please mail your completed written survey to:
Miistakis Institute
Room U271
Mount Royal University
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary AB T2E 6K6
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Eligibility
1. Do you currently live in or manage land in southern Alberta (yellow section/“Beaver Survey Area”)?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Don’t know
2. With respect to beavers, please select the category that you most relate to personally (we recognize that more
than one can apply but please select only one and respond to the survey from that perspective):
a. You own land/property in Alberta and are responsible for management of that land/property
b. You own land/property in Alberta but are not responsible for management of that land/property
c. You rent or lease land/property in Alberta and are responsible for management of that land/property
d. You rent or lease land/property in Alberta but are not responsible for management of that
land/property
3. Are you 18 years of age or older:
a. Yes
b. No (In order to participate in this survey you must be 18 years of age or older. Please proceed to page
19)
Knowledge
4. Please answer true or false to the following statements:
True False Don’t Know
Beavers naturally exist in Alberta
Beaver population numbers today are greater than their historic (pre-1900) numbers in Alberta
Beavers spend the majority of their life in waterbodies
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True False Don’t Know
Beavers build both dams and lodges
Beavers eat fish
Beavers must chew on wood because their teeth do not stop growing
Beavers have webbed feet
Beaver dams can create ponds (wetlands) that help replenish groundwater
Beaver dams can create ponds that are important for fish such as trout
Beaver dams act as barriers to fish movement in streams
Beaver colonies can have up to 12 individuals living in one location
Young beavers disperse at 6 months of age
Beavers are driven to build dams based on the sound and feeling of running water
Beavers create wetlands and habitat that benefits other living things
Ponds created by beaver dams generally help reduce the threat of flooding
Water captured behind beaver dams results in lower flows and causes insufficient water downstream.
Cutting of trees by beavers results in loss of tree populations
5. Which of the following has legal authority to manage beaver on private land in Alberta? (Please check all that
apply)
Private landowners
Municipal government
Government of Alberta
Government of Canada
6. Under what conditions can private landowners legally remove beaver or beaver dams from their property?
a. Anytime they want
b. After receiving a permit from the appropriate government authority
c. Never
d. Other
e. Don’t know
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Feelings towards Beavers
7. In general, how do you feel about beavers?
a. Extremely Dislike
b. Dislike
c. Neutral
d. Like
e. Extremely Like
Comments:
8. In general, do you feel beavers are:
a. Extremely Harmful
b. Harmful
c. Neutral
d. Beneficial
e. Extremely Beneficial
Comments:
9. To what extent do you disagree or agree with the following statements? (please select only one response per
row)
Strongly Disagree
Slightly Disagree
Neutral Slightly Agree
Strongly Agree
I may never see a beaver, but it is important to me that they exist
I am afraid of beavers
I would get enjoyment from seeing beavers
Beaver damage to roads or bridges is a major problem
Beaver damage to property (other than roads & bridges) is a major problem
Beavers are an important part of the natural ecosystem
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Strongly Disagree
Slightly Disagree
Neutral Slightly Agree
Strongly Agree
Drinking water contaminated by beaver exposes people to diseases
Beavers are a nuisance
People should be willing to tolerate some conflict with beavers
Beavers have a right to exist regardless of any damage they cause
When beaver dams burst they create flood damage to downstream areas
Beaver populations should be actively managed
No beaver should be killed
Beavers damage habitat for some wildlife or fish species
Beavers cause more harm than good
10. I would be happy if beaver populations:
a. Increased greatly
b. Increased slightly
c. Remained the same
d. Decreased slightly
e. Decreased greatly
f. No opinion
Concerns
11. If beavers are or were present on your property (or land you manage) or neighbouring properties, how
concerned would you be about each of the following? (please select only one response per row)
Not at all concerned
Slightly concerned
Moderately concerned
Extremely concerned
No Opinion
Your own personal health or safety
Health or safety of children
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Not at all concerned
Slightly concerned
Moderately concerned
Extremely concerned
No Opinion
Health or safety of pets or livestock
Spread of diseases by beavers
Potential damage to your own property (or property that you manage) by beavers
Comments:
12. To what extent would it be a problem IF beavers caused the following on your property or land you manage?
(please select only one response per row)
Not at all a problem
Minor problem
Moderate problem
Serious problem
Don’t Know
Not Applicable
Overflow of a pond, lake, or stream
Flooding of a road or driveway
Flooding of crops or fields
Flooding of a home or other building
Damage to trees and shrubs
Damage to culverts (e.g. plugged culverts, erosion around culverts)
Other: (please describe the impact and extent of the problem)
13. Based on your present knowledge and experiences with beaver in Alberta, in your opinion, which statement
best represents the extent of beaver damage in Alberta over the past 5 years?
a. Increased greatly
b. Increased slightly
c. Remained the same
d. Decreased slightly
e. Decreased greatly
f. No opinion
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Local Beaver Presence
14. Are there beavers living on: your property, property that you manage, or adjacent properties? (within the last
5 years)
a. Yes
b. No please skip to question number 29
c. Unsure please skip to question number 29
d. No, but they have been present in the past (over 5 years ago) Please skip to question 22
15. With regard to your property or property you manage which would you say is most true:
a. Beavers are very common
b. Beavers are common
c. Beavers are uncommon
d. Beavers are rare
e. Unsure if beavers are common
16. How many beavers would you estimate currently exist on your property or property you manage?
____________
17. How many beavers would you estimate currently exist on adjacent (neighbouring) properties to your property
or property you manage?
____________
18. To what extent do you consider beavers to be a problem on your property or land that you manage?
a. Not a problem
b. Slight problem
c. Moderate problem
d. Extreme problem
e. Sometimes a problem, other times not
19. In general, how would you describe the severity of the beaver damage to your property in the last 5 years?
a. No damage
b. Light damage
c. Moderate damage
d. Severe damage
e. Highly variable damage, depending on the situation
20. How often have beavers caused each of the following on your property over the past 5 years? (please select
only one response per row)
Never 1-2 times 3-5 times More than 5 times
Overflow of a pond, lake, or stream
Flooding of a road or driveway
Flooding of crops, pasture, or fields
Flooding of a home or other building
Damage to trees or shrubs
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Never 1-2 times 3-5 times More than 5 times
Damage to culverts (e.g. Plugged culverts, erosion around culverts)
Blocked irrigation or drainage ditches
Other: (please describe the impact and how often beavers have caused it)
21. With regard to the impacts you have experienced, please indicate if you consider the following impacts to be
unreasonable, tolerable, or not applicable. (please select only one response per row)
Unreasonable Tolerable Not Applicable
Overflow of a pond, lake, or stream
Flooding of a road or driveway
Flooding of crops, pasture, or fields
Flooding of a home or other building
Damage to trees or shrubs
Damage to culverts (e.g. Plugged culverts, erosion around culverts)
Blocked irrigation or drainage ditches
Other: (please describe the impact and note whether it was unreasonable or tolerable)
IF YOU ANSWERED QUESTION 21 PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION 29
Historical Local Beaver Presence
22. Historically, with regard to your property or property you manage which would you say is most true:
a. Beavers were very common
b. Beavers were common
c. Beavers were uncommon
d. Beavers were rare
e. Unsure if beavers were common
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23. How many beavers would you estimate historically existed on your property or property you manage over a
one year period? ________________
24. How many beavers would you estimate historically existed on adjacent (neighbouring) properties to your
property or property you manage over a one year period? _________
25. Historically, to what extent did you consider beavers to be a problem on your property or land that you
manage?
a. Not a problem
b. Slight problem
c. Moderate problem
d. Extreme problem
e. Sometimes a problem, other times not
26. In general, how would you describe the severity of the beaver damage to your property historically?
a. No damage
b. Light damage
c. Moderate damage
d. Severe damage
e. Highly variable damage, depending on the situation
27. Historically, how often have beavers caused each of the following on your property? (please select only one
response per row)
Never 1-2 times 3-5 times More than 5 times
Overflow of a pond, lake, or stream
Flooding of a road or driveway
Flooding of crops, pasture, or fields
Flooding of a home or other building
Damage to trees or shrubs
Damage to culverts (e.g. Plugged culverts, erosion around culverts)
Blocked irrigation or drainage ditches
Other: (please describe the impact and how often beavers have caused it)
28. With regard to the impacts you have experienced historically, please indicate if you consider the following
impacts to be unreasonable, tolerable, or not applicable. (please select only one response per row)
Unreasonable Tolerable Not Applicable
Overflow of a pond, lake, or stream
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Unreasonable Tolerable Not Applicable
Flooding of a road or driveway
Flooding of crops, pasture, or fields
Flooding of a home or other building
Damage to trees or shrubs
Damage to culverts (e.g. Plugged culverts, erosion around culverts)
Blocked irrigation or drainage ditches
Other: (please describe the impact and note whether it was unreasonable or tolerable)
Beaver Benefits
29. How interested would you be in having beavers living on your property?
a. Not at all interested
b. Slightly interested
c. Neutral
d. Moderately interested
e. Extremely interested
30. Do you receive all the benefits that you want to receive from beavers or beaver wetlands?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Don’t know
d. There are no benefits from beavers
31. Please select which category most applies to you with regard to receiving benefits from beavers: (please select
only one response per row)
I have received this benefit
I have not received this benefit but could
This benefit is not applicable
Not sure
Increased livestock watering areas
Increased riparian (streamside or shoreline) vegetation
Increased species diversity
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I have received this benefit
I have not received this benefit but could
This benefit is not applicable
Not sure
Increased wildlife numbers
Elevated water tables
Improved water quality (reduction of sediment, etc.)
Reduced flooding
Increased fishing opportunities
Increased waterfowl hunting opportunities
Aesthetic qualities/nature watching opportunities
Other: (Please specify the benefit and which category it falls under)
32. Please check off all of the benefits you would like to receive more of from beavers and are applicable to your
land/property:
I want to receive more of this benefit
Increased livestock watering areas
Increased riparian (streamside) vegetation
Increased species diversity
Increased wildlife numbers
Elevated water tables
Improved water quality (reduction of sediment, etc.)
Reduced flooding
Increased fishing opportunities
Increased waterfowl hunting opportunities
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I want to receive more of this benefit
Monetary return from fur trapping
Recreational trapping opportunities
Aesthetic qualities
Nature watching opportunities
Other: (Please specify)
33. Please select how you feel about the statements below with regard to your property, land that you manage, or
adjacent properties: (please select only one response per row)
Increased
Remained the same
Decreased
Unsure
Beaver numbers have
Beaver related problems have
Beaver related benefits have
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Tolerance and Management Actions
34. How unacceptable or acceptable would it be to take each of the following actions related to beavers if they
were in your area? Have you taken this action? Was this action successful?
How acceptable is this action?
Have you taken this
action?
Was this action
successful?
File a complaint with government
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Contact non-government groups about how to deal with beavers
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Ask for/ researched info about how to coexist with beavers
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Intentionally use beaver for riparian management/ enhancement
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Do nothing – I would leave the beaver alone
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Wrap trees to prevent the beaver from chewing trees
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Install beaver tools (exclusion devices or water level controllers)
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Remove beaver dams or lodges in the area.
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Capture and relocate the beaver to another location (yourself or ask someone to do so)
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Frighten the beaver away Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Destroy the beaver (lethal control)
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
Other: (please specify)
Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA
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35. Who do you think should be responsible for addressing problems with beavers on your property or neighboring
properties? (Please check all that apply)
Individual residents experiencing the problem
Municipal government
Alberta government
Federal government
First Nations council
Private animal control personnel
Citizen groups
Regulated trappers
Other:______
Incentives
36. How unlikely or likely are you to take advantage of each of the following possible incentives that would allow
beavers to live on your property or neighbouring properties? (please select only one response per row)
Extremely unlikely
Unlikely Neutral Likely Extremely likely
Not Applicable
Information sent to you about how to coexist with beavers
Experts visit your home to provide technical information
Experts plant trees near your home for food/shelter for beavers
Diversionary feeding technique is used (food is supplied to beavers)
Experts provide equipment and labour to install things such as tree wrapping materials, fences, or water control pipes
Financial compensation for damage caused by beavers
None of these incentives because I would not keep the beaver living on my property or neighboring properties
Comments:
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Demographic
37. Please select the municipality where you own, rent, or lease land/property in which you completed this survey
in regards to:
MD Bighorn
MD Ranchland
Wheatland County
MD of Foothills
MD Pincher Creek
Rockyview County
MD Willow Creek
Cardston County
Vulcan County
County of Lethbridge
County of Warner
County of Newell
MD Taber
County of 40 Mile
Cypress County
City of Calgary
Don’t know
Other (please specify):
38. Approximately how many years have you owned or managed this land? __________
39. Approximately how much land do you own or manage?
a. Less than 1 acre (Less than 0.40ha)
b. 1 - 5 acres (0.40 - 2.02ha)
c. 6 – 20 acres (2.43 – 8.09ha)
d. 21 – 80 acres (8.50 – 32.37ha)
e. 81 – 160 acres (32.78 – 64.75ha)
f. More than one quarter section (more than 64.75ha)
40. Approximately how many kilometres (or miles) of shoreline or streambank do you own or manage? _____km/mi
(please circle unit)
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41. Please select the primary and secondary land use activities that currently occur on the land that you own or
manage? (please select only one land use per column)
Primary land use
Secondary land use
Agriculture – annual crop
Agriculture – perennial crops
Agriculture - livestock grazing
Agriculture – livestock in confined feeding operation
Residential-Primary residence
Residential-Recreational/Vacation/Temporary
Timber / forestry harvest
Orchards
Beekeeping
Commercial or industrial activities (non-agricultural)
Hunting
Trapping
Camping
Natural areas
All-terrain or off-road vehicle recreation
Other: (please specify)
42. Please select your age range:
a. 18-25
b. 26-35
c. 36-45
d. 46-55
e. 56-65
f. 66-75
g. 76-85
h. Over 85
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43. What is the highest level of education that you have achieved?
a. Less than a high school diploma
b. High school diploma or GED
c. Completed a post-secondary program
d. Bachelor’s degree
e. Master’s degree
f. Ph.D. degree
Final Comments
44. We are planning on developing educational information on beavers and beaver management and want to
provide it in a format that will be most useful. Please check off your preference for the top 3 formats you would
use below:
Newspaper Article
Pamphlet / brochure
Television
Radio
E-mail
DVD
Online-video (eg. YouTube)
Podcast
Blog
Website
In-person Workshop
I am not interested in information about beavers
Other (please specify): ___________________________
45. Please tell us what you would like to know about beavers, their impacts, and/or how to coexist with them:
a. I don’t want to know about beavers, their impacts, or how to coexist with them.
b. Please specify:
46. Would you like to receive information on beavers and beaver management? (Please note that results will be
aggregated and feedback will not be attributed).
a. No
b. Yes Please fill in the table below
Name
Email Address
Phone number
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47. Would you be interested in attending a workshop on beaver management, coexistence, or relocation? We will
notify you of upcoming opportunities in the next couple years in your area. If so, please provide your
information below (Please note that results will be aggregated and feedback will not be attributed).
a. No
b. Yes Please fill in the table below
Name
Email Address
Phone number
48. Would you be interested in accepting or donating a beaver for relocation? If yes, we will contact you. (Please
note that results will be aggregated and feedback will not be attributed).
a. No
b. Yes Please fill in the table below
Name
Email Address
Phone number
49. If you have any additional comments about beavers please write them below:
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Conclusion
Thank you for participating in our “Southern Alberta Beaver Survey: Assessing Knowledge and Perceptions Towards
Beavers.” The results of this survey will be available in a formal report created after the survey period at:
www.rockies.ca and www.cowsandfish.org.
If you would like more information about beaver ecology or methods to coexist with beavers (i.e. pond leveling devices,
exclusion devices, beaver reintroduction efforts, etc.) please contact Holly at the Miistakis Institute at [email protected] ,
403-440-8444, or the staff at Cows and Fish at [email protected] , 403-381-5538 (for regional staff check out
cowsandfish.org/contact.html).
Funding for this research is generously provided by the Calgary Foundation.
Please mail your completed written survey to:
Miistakis Institute
Room U271
Mount Royal University
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary AB T2E 6K6