Dammed if they do, dammed if they don’t: Orchard Park grapples with beavers

The tree-eating aquatic rodents are one of the attractions nonetheless at the site off Jewett Holmwood Road in Orchard Park.

Rory Curtis, who lives in the Birdsong subdivision, said the beavers are a big part of the park and the beauty of nature.

“To have a group of them here where we can watch them is a real privilege,” Curtis said. “They’re not particularly dynamic. They don’t do tricks. They just swim around, and occasionally you can see them working on the lodge, repairing the lodge, which is pretty spectacular to see.”

But to the Town of Orchard Park, the beavers are a nuisance, causing flooding and damage to the park. That’s why the Town Board hired a trapper to kill the beavers, and why a group of residents is trying to convince officials to employ nonlethal means of dealing with them.

Five beavers in the Village of Orchard Park were not as lucky after they built a dam near Highland Avenue, and were killed. Village officials and nearby residents worried the dam would cause flooding of homes.

Town officials said flooding due to beaver dams has eroded parts of Birdsong Park trails, and the level of the water has increased and reached some of the wooden boardwalks, damaging them. Residents contend the boardwalks are nearly 20 years old, and have sustained normal wear and tear.

The town decided it needed outside help after parks workers knocked down two beaver dams at the park during the summer and the beavers repaired them.

Residents objected after the Town Board approved a contract with a trapper to kill the beavers, and the town put the trapping on hold. About a dozen residents met with Recreation and Parks Director Ed Leak to talk about alternatives.

Chief among the options is a pipe that would go through the dam, creating a permanent leak to lower the level of the pond. Such pond levelers use…