The Chena River and the beavers that inhabit it.

Why does ADF&G keep track of the lower Chena River beaver population?

• Beavers can be a nuisance.– Chew down trees in yards (wild trees and ornimentals).– Plug culverts.– Cause flooding.– No general trapping season on the lower Chena River,

but ADF&G discretionary permits can be issued to harvest beaver. These are generally nuisance permits or educational permits.

Beaver survey area

• Mouth of Tanana River up Chena River to the mouth of Little Chena River.

• 25 miles of river.• Surveys are conducted at end of September or

beginning of October.• Fresh feed caches are easily spotted where

beavers have lodges.

Area surveyed

Located Beaver Huts

19861987

19881989

19901991

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

20122013

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Active Beaver caches

live caches

Population

• Average 25 beavers huts (not including Noyes slough)

• Average 6-10 beavers per hut• 150-250 beavers • 4 to 6 young produced from each hut annually• Lots of immigration and emigration from the

upper Chena River.• Lots of young beaver looking for new homes in the

river and surrounding bodies of water.

Being a nuisance

• ADF&G receives approximately 30-50 nuisance beaver calls per year.

• Nuisance permitted trappers harvest 15-20 beavers per year.

• Educational permits (ATA) harvest 10-15 beavers per year.

• Several huts in the heart of the city are left untrapped for viewing purposes unless a real problem arises.

In Conclusion

• ADF&G tries to keep track of where all the active beaver huts are on the lower Chena River.

• We mitigate nuisance problems• We educate landowners along the river on how

to protect property.• We issue trapping permits to reduce beaver

numbers in problem areas.• We maintain viewing opportunity in popular

areas.