Tree Protection : How to Protect Trees from Beaver Chewing

Acquire your materials. Depending on tree size, of course, 100ft of fencing can protect about 10 trees.
Prioritize which trees you want to protect first. This can be the trickiest part. Consider tree species, trunk size, and proximity to water. It is helpful to observe what beavers have already chewed (and where) in your area to learn about the local individuals’ specific preferences. As a general starting point, conifers are least preferred and favorites include alder, willow, birch, poplar, cottonwood, and cherry.
Cut each fencing panel long enough to leave one foot of space in between the trunk and the fence, all the way around the trunk’s circumference. This allows the tree to grow and this method to work for years without requiring maintenance or threatening to girdle the tree.
Secure the seam by bending the cut ends of the fence around the other edge, every few inches (or use zip ties or hog rings).
Use a few landscape pins or staples to secure the base so beavers don’t push/dig up and under the fence.
Get creative beyond these recommendations! Beavers also chew roots, so you can cut and flare out fencing to accommodate roots or use scrap pieces of fencing to cage in the roots by staking them down. You may also have to alter cages for trees that grow on hillsides, those that have low branches, etc.

If you follow these instructions, you will avoid these common mistakes.

If you need more support, schedule a site visit here or contact us to organize a group tree-protection workshop.

Happy wrapping!