Protect Trees | sierrawildlife

Protecting valuable trees from Beaver chewing

Tree felling by Beavers is part of nature's cycle. Such pruning stimulates the growth of the fast-growing trees they prefer, which come back even bushier. You can easily protect special trees with wire mesh or even with just an abrasive mixture of latex paint and sand.

Wire Mesh Tree Protection

Heavy gage wire-mesh fencing is the best method of protecting individual trees or groups of trees (Note: chicken wire is for chickens - beavers are bigger and stronger!)

In the Tahoe-Truckee area care must be taken to insure that the wire reaches well above (2'-3') the anticipated snow level, as beavers do not hibernate in the winter.

Cylinders can be made from 5' tall galvanized garden fencing (2"x4" mesh) and should be large enough to sit away from the tree trunk, both to keep the beavers from being able to reach thru the fencing to the tree and to allow for tree growth. Metal fence posts can be used to provide extra suppport for winter snow and ice. Cut the bottom of the fencing to fit sloping ground, or to protect prominent roots from chewing.

Abrasive Paint Tree Protection

Even easier than fencing, and very effective while also being almost invisible, is using an abrasive mixture of latex paint and sand to protect trees. This works only on larger trees, about 3"-4" diameter or larger trunks - it is better to prtoect saplings or smaller bushes with fencing. Trees should be checked anually to insure that the weather has not worn away the texture. And again, beavers do not hibernate, so trees should be painted at least 2'-3' above anticipated snow levels.