Eagle pair threatened

[mike]

I photographed the mating pair of bald eagles today in Brantford and noticed that beavers have moved into the area.
They're starting to take trees out right in the eagles nesting area. I'd appreciate if someone has information on who to talk to about having something done about this.
I don't know what it entails in capturing and relocating beaver but if something isn't done, I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before the tree that houses the eagle nest will succumb to the beaver's ferocious appetite.
Some may say let nature takes its course. In this situation I would disagree completely. Thanks for listening.

[Reuven_M]

I'm wondering why you don't think nature should be allowed to take its course. Eagles are not at all threatened any more, and beavers provide great habitat for all sorts of species. I also don't think that beavers normally chop down trees large enough to support an eagles nest (could be wrong on this).
If you insist on trying something, I'd suggest talking to MNR to see what leeway you have. Is it on your own land? Otherwise I would be extremely surprised if anything could be done unless roads or buildings were threatened.

[mike]

They might not be threatened but they're not a common sight in these parts, especially a mature mating pair. Beavers are in the midst of taking out two large trees within 50ft (roughly) of the nest. No it isn't my land. If the nest gets chewed down then at least  I tried to save it. Sorry but sometimes we should intervene. Don't we kill enough of their habitat that we should help when we can?

[Sahria]

The MNR used to take care of beavers to protect treed areas so I'd check with them.

[farmer]

Is it possible to wrap the base of the Eagles tree with chain link fence or something like that, so the beavers won't chew through it? Then they would just choose a different tree that is easier to cut down? They could cut through chicken wire easily, so it should be sturdier than that.

[mike]

Thanks for the help. I contacted the appropriate people and let them know the situation.
They will hopefully do something about it.

[Ron Luft]

I'd have to agree with Reuven. Viewing Beavers as a distructive force is a very antiquated way of thinking. It seems as though, Mike, that you are assuming that we have a responsibilty for beavers and what they naturally do which is NOT destroying habitat. . WE (humans) are not part of the equation in this case.

[mike]

Sorry but I don't see putting some barrier around a tree to deter beavers and to protect a nesting pair of baldies as a negative action.
Eagles are an uncommon species in these parts and to protect them for the sake of helping the population, so be it.

[mike]

Sorry but I don't see putting some barrier around a tree to deter beavers and to protect a nesting pair of baldies as a negative action.
Eagles are an uncommon species in these parts and to protect them for the sake of helping the population, so be it.

[Brian Bailey]

Considering the effort and expense that has gone into Osprey platforms in southern Ontario in the last decade, I think saving a single tree from beavers in order to preserve an eagle nest site is pretty reasonable.  Last I checked, Osprey were far more common than Bald Eagles in Ontario.

BB

[Turtlebird]

I agree that it is foolish to interfere in this case.  The beavers are just being beavers, the eagles made a poor choice apparantly.  Why not just keep the eagles and their nest in a big cage to protect then from other wildlife?  oh wait....

Sorry for the sarcasm but this sort of "have my cake and eat it too" attitude just doesn't fly with me.  This has likely happened before without anyone even knowing it, and will happen again.  I personally don't want to see every tree with an eagle's nest wrapped in wire.

[ravynne40]

Last I checked about Bald Eagle status, is that they are still "of special concern" not really endangered anymore, they have made a come back but I believe still need to be protected.
The ROM has an updated list of birds/animals that are extinct/threatened or of special concern etc...

http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?region=3

Click on the birds section of this webpage....it will give you a list of birds and their status.

I have seen many trees in Marie Curtis Park with mesh wire around them, even at Sam Smith Park so...is a mesh wire a bad thing? Not sure. It definitely is not esthetically pleasing to the eye.  Anyways..the beavers will just move on to another area they can access trees, they will do what comes naturally to them.