Any protection should extend higher than beaver standing on its back legs (0.9m)

Buttress roots should also be protected 

Flexible wire such as ‘chicken mesh’ should be avoided as it is not robust enough.

Remove any moss/lichens and let trunk dry before painting, unless you are in a protected site where the moss and lichens are features of interest. In that instance employ other measures.

Painting is more difficult on rough barked trees

An alternative/complementary method of protection should involvethe establishment of an unfenced, sacrificial riparian buffer strip of native willow situated between the water’s edge and woodland creation. Some dominant species from the main woodland creation should also be planted in this strip to divert potential impacts.

Fast-growing, regenerative, flood-tolerant species should be planted within the riparian zone, but at least 10 m from the water’s edge, at a higher stocking density. These can include a mix of willow, aspen, birch, rowan and smaller proportions of alder.

Monitoring of beaver impacts should be incorporated into existing inspections for other herbivore impacts (deer, squirrel, hare etc). Beaver-deer interactions should also be monitored.

Fencing within a flood zone should be carefully considered

Beavers are more likely to feed on certain tree species including willows, poplars, birch, hazel and fruit trees (especially apple). They also use a broad variety of other trees including ash, alder, elm, oak, beech, maple and sycamore and in gardens have occasionally been reported to cut wisteria, laurel, leylandii and rhododendron.

Beavers are likely to feed on the next available unprotected trees. Before you start protection think strategically about which trees you want to protect, whether the species is likely to be impacted by beavers, and which you might be prepared to allow beavers to feed on.