Beavers and trees – How Lander volunteers are making coexistence possible

What’s the deal with the wire cages around trees? If you walk along the path by the Middle Fork Popo Agie River, near Eugene Street, you’ll see wire fencing around some of the trees. These fences were installed by volunteers to help the City of Lander protect the large cottonwood trees from beavers, who sometimes cut them down. Beavers are an important keystone species in Wyoming – a species that creates environments on which many other wildlife species depend. This fencing project helps support humans and beavers living in the same spaces and reduces conflicts. To learn more about beavers and their important roles in streams and riparian areas in Wyoming, visit this link: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/299/download?inline

How to fence a tree properly? Along the walking path, some unknown people had previously fenced some trees and several of these fences had to be removed and replaced because they were either fenced way too tightly around the trees or they didn’t protect the bottom of the trees. Below are some guidelines for fencing trees properly:

1. Fencing needs to be thick enough that beavers can’t chew through or pull it down (NOT chicken wire; opt for 2”x4” wire mesh that is 10-14 gauge).
2. Fencing needs to be tall enough that beavers cannot stand and chew above it (at least 4 feet).
3. There needs to be space between the wire and the tree trunk so the tree can grow (at least 6” – 12”).
4. Make sure the bottom of the tree is protected. You may need to cut parts of the bottom of the fencing to make sure it sits level if the ground around it is uneven. Rebar or t-posts may also be helpful to keep the fencing in place.

In some cases, fencing trees may be difficult or undesirable. Painting trees with a mixture of sand and paint can be an alternative, but it is not as durable or effective as fencing. Some trees along the river walk were painted with a sand-paint mixture – see if you can spot them during your next walk!

If you are interested in learning more about how to properly protect your trees or getting advice on how to deal with other conflicts you experience with beavers, the Beaver Institute (https://www.beaverinstitute.org/) provides many helpful guides and resources. Also, Joanna Harter, who organized these volunteer events in Lander, can provide local advice and may be able to assist in addressing beaver conflicts, joannaharter@gmail.com, 719-271-0978.