As one of two founders of the Vermont Beaver Association, I am proud to say we were created by Addison County residents, and we’ve had a fantastic year. In collaboration with organizations and educators across Vermont, we’ve had projects all over the state. Whether it’s working to educate communities, road crews or town selectboards on how to resolve beaver conflicts or educating the ecological and environmental benefits of having and keeping beavers in landscapes, our organization has it all covered. We are supported by experts in the fields of ecology, biology, conservation and hydrological water flow and beaver conflict resolutions. We have so many like-minded associates that it’s been overwhelming, and Vermont Beaver support is growing every day.

Addison County is leading the charge across the state: Ripton, Monkton, Starksboro, Lincoln and close neighbors Huntington, Hinesburg, Charlotte, Williston and Shelburne are all happy partners with us who’ve benefited both environmentally and fiscally from implementing non-lethal beaver solutions. It’s not easy! We are vehemently opposed by some. I have always asked myself how can our good work be considered as “Anti” or considered “Eco terrorism.” Beaver conservation and advocacy is met with a lot of challenges by sportsmen’s groups trying to protect their traditional ways. However, despite that, there are many grassroot and professional organizations who’ve all stepped up to actively educate on beavers across the state.

It’s not just advocates who face challenges; highly educated professionals in the beaver field are feeling the pressure as well as state officials and legislators. One thing is clear — beavers are either hated or loved.

Beavers have long been misunderstood. Survival behaviors that cause conflicts consist mostly of dams and blocked culverts. These can be dealt with by using long-term, high-quality Beaver Deceivers and culvert fencing. Using science like this allows this keystone species to create and manage amazing wetlands that provide protections and habitats for so much flora and fauna. I’ve had the amazing opportunity several times to watch a wasted wetland come to life and turn into an absolutely stunning recreational opportunity, especially for those who want to enjoy wildlife. This is a direct benefit and result of allowing beavers to thrive. Learning to harness beavers’ superpowers is to our advantage on many levels.

This past few weeks we’ve gotten a boost in support from Vermont legislators taking notice and asking questions and hearing testimony from professional organizations across Vermont. It’s time our state beaver program is brought current, to not only reflect special interest organizations, but environmental ones as well. Testimony was given clearly about the financial savings to keeping beavers in the landscapes vs. removing them for personal use. Watching so many environmental organizations and groups sprouting up all over our state gives me hope. Knowing they see the same benefits I do will help us to keep educating about benefits, especially in flooding mitigation, climate control and water quality.

At some point, these qualities and benefits are going to have to take precedence, and beavers will be left alone to serve a much-needed environmental purpose. Only then will their superpowers be able to help save the planet and help humans despite us almost eliminating them. This isn’t just a Vermont issue. Beaver benefits are being realized across our nation and the world. Beavers are not only on local legislators’ minds but government ones as well, and our organization is part of that national working group.

We are getting a second chance to do the right thing, to appreciate beavers and their benefits. Just remember last time we used them as a resource for man’s profit, we almost eliminated them. If beavers are gone, so are their benefits and the hope we have in them helping to save our planet.

Beavers’ environmental superpowers can’t be mstched by any other creature on the planet besides man, and they’re much less expensive. Vermont Beaver Association is 100% dedicated to non-lethal resolutions. If you’ve reached out to us, then you’ve made that choice on your own and we appreciate you choosing that path. We protect identities and locations as well, so you can feel secure when you participate with us. A pathway to non-lethal coexistence is a good thing. We will know where to send you, based on your issues and needed solutions.

That’s a pretty productive and amazing second chance and I think Beavers deserve better considerations and protections.

Bev Soychak

Monkton