North American beavers are native to Ontario and part of a healthy ecosystem. They are beneficial to wetlands and watersheds as they create and preserve wetlands for many animal, bird and insect species.
Beavers are protected and regulated provincially and federally under the following acts:
If a tree is falling or has fallen because of beaver activity and it’s blocking a pathway or causing property damage, call 311.
After the falling or fallen trees are removed, the City may decide to plant native trees and shrubs to restore the impacted areas. If you’re interested in helping with the restorative efforts, call 311.
Under Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, you are prohibited from:
Not only are body gripping traps illegal, but they also pose a big risk to public safety. In addition, trapping or relocating beavers will not resolve the issue as it does not deter other beavers from moving in.
Unless you are a licensed trapper with a permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, you’re prohibited from removing or destroying beaver dams as doing so can cause:
The City will investigate beaver dams suspected of posing a risk to stormwater or road infrastructure. The City will then address the situation in compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
There are several ways you can protect your property from beavers safely and humanely.
By wrapping trees using heavy galvanized steel mesh or hardware cloth, you can discourage beavers from cutting down trees in your property.
When wrapping trees, make sure to:
Beavers are not good climbers and can be deterred with fences that are 1.5 metres tall.
When installing fencing, make sure to:
You may be able to deter beavers from your property by planting trees that don’t attract them, such as:
In addition, you can spray trees with bitter-tasting repellent to deter them. You may need to re-apply the spray after rainfall.
You can also consider painting tree trunks with sand and latex paint mix.
Installing a humane beaver baffle or leveller system can regulate water levels and prevent beavers from rebuilding a destroyed dam.
Before you install a beaver baffle or leveller system ensure the environmental effects of using the tools are considered by an environmental expert before it is installed.
Beavers aren’t a big safety risk. However, they should be avoided as they are wild animals wary of people.
If you see a sick, hurt or distressed beaver in Mississauga, call Animal Services at 905-896-5858.