P.E.I. no longer helping with nuisance beavers

A man in Eastern P.E.I. is frustrated to learn the province will no longer help him with beavers that set up on his property every year, flooding hectares around his home.

Mark Reeves of St. Mary's Road said his land and driveway get severely flooded every spring when the animals dam up a culvert. 

The annual flooding causes extensive damage, he said.

"We had five acres [two hectares] of land under water, we actually took the canoe back to see it all it was incredible how much water there was," said Reeves.

"Somewhere between 50 and 100 feet [15 to 30 metres] of our driveway was underwater for quite some time. It flooded to the point where it was washing over the top our driveway."

No more help from province

In past years Reeves has turned to the P.E.I. government for help with the beavers, but that help is no longer available.

The government hires a number of trappers every year to deal with nuisance beavers, and in previous years has assigned those trappers to do some work on private land.

But not any more.

"The determination was made this year with resources and time that we no longer have those resources available for private landowners," said government spokesman Ron Ryder.

Ryder said fish and wildlife officials will put people in touch with a qualified trapper, who will get rid of nuisance animals for about $200 each.

Reeves said he doesn't like the idea of trapping and killing the animals but feels he has no choice but to hire someone to do that.

He would like a long-term solution, and in particular would like more help from the province.

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