ORANGE, Vt. (July 11, 2025) — On the second anniversary of the catastrophic 2023 floods that devastated communities across Vermont, a coalition of animal and environmental advocates came together to take positive action by installing a “beaver deceiver” flow device to prevent future flooding and promote compassionate coexistence with wildlife.

The installation took place on Thursday, July 10, in Orange, Vermont, on land stewarded by Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary. The flow device was successfully installed by Beaver Deceivers LLC, with majority funding from In Defense of Animals. 

“This beaver family has survived a lot,” said Katie Nolan, Wild Animals Campaigner at In Defense of Animals. “Thanks to this flow device, they now have a real chance to thrive — and to show other towns across Vermont what’s possible when we choose coexistence.”

This installation followed a devastating history of lethal trapping in the same area, where beavers were drowned in underwater traps that can cause prolonged suffering for up to nine minutes. Advocates including Vermont Wildlife Patrol and Vermont River Conservancy have since worked to end this cruel and ineffective method of wildlife control.

“Beavers are powerful ecosystem protectors — not pests,” Nolan said. “Instead of destroying their dams and killing them, we now have the opportunity to protect human infrastructure and beaver lives at the same time.”

Beaver deceivers are proven, humane infrastructure designed to regulate water levels while allowing beavers to remain in place. The devices prevent dam-related flooding that can damage roads and culverts, and their benefits extend far beyond flood prevention. Beavers help maintain vital wetlands, which in turn improve water quality, recharge groundwater, support biodiversity, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The device installed in Orange cost $4,000 — a fraction of the $13,000 the Vermont Department of Transportation previously spent on lethal trapping and dam destruction at the same location.

This collaborative effort included support from Vermont Wildlife Patrol, Vermont River Conservancy, Vermont Wildlife Coalition, and other local advocates.

“This is about more than saving one beaver family,” said Nolan. “It’s about showing that compassionate, cost-effective, long-term solutions are not only possible — they’re working. We hope this inspires other communities to follow suit.”

The project serves as a model for other towns and landowners across Vermont and beyond, highlighting the success of nature-based solutions in a climate-challenged world.

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CONTACT: Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director ‪(215) 620-2130, lisa@idausa.org

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin, California, with over 250,000 supporters and a history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California, and rural Mississippi, since 1983. https://www.idausa.org 

Beaver Deceivers,  LLC a Vermont-based company providing humane, effective solutions to human-beaver conflicts through innovative flow device installations. Founded by Skip Lisle, the company has helped protect ecosystems and communities nationwide. ​​https://beaverdeceivers.com

Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary is a nonprofit conservation education center in Central Vermont dedicated to protecting biodiverse habitats, promoting coexistence with wildlife, and fostering personal and planetary healing. Rooted in a commitment to ecological stewardship and social justice, Sage Mountain offers programs that integrate conservation, herbal education, and advocacy for land rematriation and Indigenous sovereignty.  https://sagemountain.com/about

Vermont Wildlife Coalition Vermont Wildlife Coalition is a grassroots nonprofit advocating for wildlife-centered conservation policies across the state. With a free membership base and active volunteer network, VWC engages Vermonters through education, legislative advocacy, and community-centered initiatives focused on humane coexistence with native species vermontriverconservancy.org 

Vermont Wildlife Patrol is a grassroots indigenous-led organization and 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 dedicated to the restoration of extirpated species and reform of state wildlife governance. Through citizen monitoring and engagement with other wildlife stakeholders, we advocate for ecological restoration and habitat connectivity to benefit all life. vtwildlife.org

 VT River Conservancy is a statewide land trust and 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 to permanently protect and restore Vermont’s rivers, floodplains, and shorelands. By working with landowners and partners, VRC conserves critical river corridors, enhances public access to swimming holes and paddling routes, and supports flood resiliency, clean water, and wildlife habitat.

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