Those dam animals are everywhere.
Beavers are posing a major problem for the Virginia Department of Transportation as the woodland creatures build dams near many roads throughout the Commonwealth.
Once the beavers build dams, the water level of the stream tends to rise, causing massive flooding problems on nearby roads, said Colin Ceperich, public relations coordinator for VDOT.
Not only does the flooding cause inconvenience and dangerous driving conditions, the water also loosens the dirt, sand and rock that make up the foundation of the road, Ceperich said.
He said the problems have become more severe in recent years.
"There just seem to be a lot more beavers now than there have been," he said.
Drainage tubes located underneath the roads also are plagued by the beaver problem when the toothy critters build dams in the drainage system.
"If they hear running water they automatically want to dam up that hole," said Stephanie Boyles, wildlife biologist for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) a group that has worked with VDOT to solve the beaver problem in an animal-friendly manner.
In late September, the Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to spend $272,000 to hire USDA-Wildlife services to trap and kill the offending beavers, much to the dismay of PETA, which claimed the traps used would "cause immeasurable suffering" to the animals.
To avoid euthanizing the beavers and bringing about their untimely deaths, PETA currently is working in conjunction with VDOT to develop a plan that will save both the beavers and the conditions of the roads.
PETA and VDOT "had a meeting last week and we seem to be on the same page right now," Boyles said.
One solution calls for the use of perforated pipes in all drainage tubes under roads. This would keep the water flowing even if the rest of the tube is blocked by a beaver dam, Boyles said.
In addition to the perforated pipes, VDOT also would use pond levelers which would keep bodies of water near roadways at a safe level so that beavers will not try to build dams.
"Everyone is happy," said Boyles. "The beavers get to stay and the road does not get washed out."
Most University students agree with VDOT's abandonment of the beaver trapping and killing plan and adoption of a more humane method of dealing with the dam-building mammals.
"I think they should relocate them rather than kill them," third-year College student Greg Hallmark said. "I think that it is unethical to kill them."
"It's unfortunate that beavers are blocking highways, but I don't see why it is necessary to kill them," fourth-year College student Lisa Scavo added.
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