Barbara Ray answers this question from July 2019. Got a question yourself? Ask here!
Beavers live along rivers, streams and watersheds all throughout Ohio. There are pockets of habitat in Dublin along the Scioto River.
Unlike raccoons and opossums, they do not utilize urban stormwater pipes to travel. They prefer to travel within the water system and will walk around barriers above ground when needed. Raccoons and opossums, rats and some mice will use the storm pipes to travel underground and avoid predators and cars.
Another aquatic mammal who lives in our waterways is the muskrat. Muskrats are larger than brown rats and have a chestnut, waterproof coat like a beaver. Beaver are much larger, have the flat paddle tail and do not dig burrows in the banks of ponds the way muskrats do.
Beaver average 35-45 lbs. They are attracted to the sound of running water such as waterfalls and fountains. Their instinct is to set up shop near moving water and to dam it up until it stops moving. Beaver are critical to creating wetland areas. However, in an urban neighborhood, they can do a lot of damage by destroying trees and flooding the area.
To deter beaver, homeowners may need to occasionally wrap or sandpaint trees, remove any branches and twigs they see beaver cutting, and turn off fountains for a couple weeks so they do not hear running waters. Without access to preferred trees and no need to halt the sound of water, they will move on.
Head here for more information on beavers: dublinohiousa.gov/nature/wanted-beavers-for-crimes-against-trees
