Beavers build dams. The Dutch build dams. On the face of it, that should make them allies, but unfortunately, the beavers have developed a habit of building theirs by burrowing into the ones that keep the Netherlands’ big rivers in their places.
The problem is mainly centered in Gelderland, the area where the Rhine, Waal and Meuse find their way to the sea. And the problem is fairly new; beavers became largely extinct in the Netherlands two hundred years ago. However, they were re-introduced in the 1990s, and the population has now reached over 5,000, with 1,500 in Gelderland, and the number is expected to double every four years.
Gelderland water expert Henne Ticheler told local broadcasters that “Beavers like to dig and that weakens the dykes and they also burrow into the paths used to monitor waterways. That means tractors or cranes can come a cropper because of holes.” Their dams can also impede drainage and increase water levels, affecting farmers, he said.
So far, Gelderland’s response has been to start ‘beaver patrols’ at night to chase them away, and his also put wire mesh on banks to make it harder for them to burrow through. Last year’s repair and prevention cost was around €25,000, but is expected to grow dramatically.
