Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013.
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a managed species in the United States. In northern Wisconsin, as part of the state-wide beaver management program, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest removes beavers from targeted trout streams on U.S. Forest Service lands. However, the success...
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doaj-a23026e01ade48bab797f37a2113a5d42020-11-24T21:48:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01121e017009910.1371/journal.pone.0170099Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013.Christine A RibicDeahn M DonnerAlbert J BeckDavid J RuggSue ReineckeDan EklundThe North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a managed species in the United States. In northern Wisconsin, as part of the state-wide beaver management program, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest removes beavers from targeted trout streams on U.S. Forest Service lands. However, the success of this management program has not been evaluated. Targeted removals comprise only 3% of the annual beaver harvest, a level of effort that may not affect the beaver population. We used colony location data along Forest streams from 1987-2013 (Nicolet, northeast Wisconsin) and 1997-2013 (Chequamegon, northwest Wisconsin) to assess trends in beaver colony density on targeted trout streams compared to non-targeted streams. On the Chequamegon, colony density on non-targeted trout and non-trout streams did not change over time, while colony density on targeted trout streams declined and then stabilized. On the Nicolet, beaver colony density decreased on both non-targeted streams and targeted trout streams. However, colony density on targeted trout streams declined faster. The impact of targeted trapping was similar across the two sides of the Forest (60% reduction relative to non-targeted trout streams). Exploratory analyses of weather influences found that very dry conditions and severe winters were associated with transient reductions in beaver colony density on non-targeted streams on both sides of the Forest. Our findings may help land management agencies weigh more finely calibrated beaver control measures against continued large-scale removal programs.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5231324?pdf=render |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Christine A Ribic Deahn M Donner Albert J Beck David J Rugg Sue Reinecke Dan Eklund |
spellingShingle |
Christine A Ribic Deahn M Donner Albert J Beck David J Rugg Sue Reinecke Dan Eklund Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Christine A Ribic Deahn M Donner Albert J Beck David J Rugg Sue Reinecke Dan Eklund |
author_sort |
Christine A Ribic |
title |
Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013. |
title_short |
Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013. |
title_full |
Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013. |
title_fullStr |
Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013. |
title_sort |
beaver colony density trends on the chequamegon-nicolet national forest, 1987 - 2013. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a managed species in the United States. In northern Wisconsin, as part of the state-wide beaver management program, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest removes beavers from targeted trout streams on U.S. Forest Service lands. However, the success of this management program has not been evaluated. Targeted removals comprise only 3% of the annual beaver harvest, a level of effort that may not affect the beaver population. We used colony location data along Forest streams from 1987-2013 (Nicolet, northeast Wisconsin) and 1997-2013 (Chequamegon, northwest Wisconsin) to assess trends in beaver colony density on targeted trout streams compared to non-targeted streams. On the Chequamegon, colony density on non-targeted trout and non-trout streams did not change over time, while colony density on targeted trout streams declined and then stabilized. On the Nicolet, beaver colony density decreased on both non-targeted streams and targeted trout streams. However, colony density on targeted trout streams declined faster. The impact of targeted trapping was similar across the two sides of the Forest (60% reduction relative to non-targeted trout streams). Exploratory analyses of weather influences found that very dry conditions and severe winters were associated with transient reductions in beaver colony density on non-targeted streams on both sides of the Forest. Our findings may help land management agencies weigh more finely calibrated beaver control measures against continued large-scale removal programs. |
url |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5231324?pdf=render |
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