Killing beavers that wreak havoc on the water’s edge? The Aa en Maas water board does not think this is a good idea. Although the water boards have a lot of trouble with the animals, shooting them is not the solution. “Then another beaver will come back,” says the water board’s beaver specialist.
The beaver population has grown considerably in recent years in our province. That is good for nature and biodiversity, but in some places the beavers cause damage by digging a burrow in dikes, for example. When the water level is high, the dike can collapse, causing the hinterland to flood.
Shooting the beaver was not allowed because it was an endangered species. But now there are so many that shooting is allowed, but only if all other measures fail.
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That seems to be good news for the water board. Last year, two meters deep mesh had to be placed at the dike of the Great Wheel on the Empelse Dijk in Rosmalen to prevent beavers from settling there.
“If you shoot beavers, their territory is released. But there are now very beavers, especially in this part of Brabant. Then a new one will come swimming up. They think it’s a nice spot and then decide to live there. How often do you want to come back with your rifle?
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