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Popko, Veitch, Promislow. 2002. An Aerial Survey
for Beaver Lodges in the Sahtu Settlement Area.
29 pp.
ABSTRACT
An
aerial survey of beaver (Castor
canadensis) lodges in three study blocks (total area
272 km2) in the Sahtu Settlement Area was flown in a
fixed-wing aircraft after leaf-fall and before freeze-up in late September
2001.
One hundred and thirty active lodges were observed, for a density
of 48 active lodges per 100 km2.
In addition, 108 inactive lodges (less than 5-yr- old) were
recorded, a density of 40 inactive lodges per 100 km2.
Comparison with similar surveys within the same study blocks in
1989 and 1997 indicates that active lodge density has decreased from
58/100 km2 in 1997, but is still slightly higher than 43/100 km2
in 1989.
The density of active beaver lodges in the Sahtu is still almost
double the average recorded in similar surveys flown across the NWT in
1989.
Beavers are an abundant furbearer resource that can support
increased harvesting levels and bring increased revenue to hunters and
trappers in the Sahtu.
Continued long-term monitoring of beaver abundance in the Sahtu is
warranted and the next survey is recommended for September 2005.
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