Southern Alberta Beaver Survey: Assessing Knowledge and ... Survey_Written Survey.pdf · Southern...

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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

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.rockies.ca/

http://www.cowsandfish.org/

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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



Flooding of crops, pasture, or fields


Damage to trees or shrubs

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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








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)









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)



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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


Ask for/ researched info about how to coexist with beavers


Intentionally use beaver for riparian management/ enhancement


Do nothing – I would leave the beaver alone


Wrap trees to prevent the beaver from chewing trees


Install beaver tools (exclusion devices or water level controllers)


Remove beaver dams or lodges in the area.


Capture and relocate the beaver to another location (yourself or ask someone to do so)


Frighten the beaver away Unacceptable/ Neutral/ Acceptable Yes / No Yes / No / NA

Destroy the beaver (lethal control)


Other: (please specify)


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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


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


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

http://www.rockies.ca/

http://www.cowsandfish.org/



http://cowsandfish.org/contact.html

Southern Alberta Beaver Survey: Assessing Knowledge and ... Survey_Written Survey.pdf · Southern...

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