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1. How long do beavers live?

In areas with predators and beaver trapping a beaver can live approximately 10 years. There are recordings of beavers living 20 to 30 years in captivity.

2. How much does a beaver weigh?

As an adult they average 40-60 lbs (18-27kg). Newborns often weigh about one pound (0.5kg).

3. What do beavers eat?

Beavers eat herbaceous plants like green bark, leaves, twigs, clover and aquatic vegetation.

4. How many bird species are found in the Beaver Boardwalk area?

So far, about 120 species have been observed in the area, which is a local birding "hotspot". The Whisky-jack Club maintains a bird checklist for the area and welcomes sightings to add to the database.

5. When is the best time of year to see birds?

May and June are the best times - migrant species are passing through or breeding, and breeding birds are active, voal and visible. Birds are alway present. If you visit in winter you will see how hardy resident species cope with the cold season.

6. How can I learn about birds?

Whisky-jack club members lead informal birding walks at the Beaver Boardwalk on Wednesday evenings in June. Contact wjclub@telus.net for more information.

7. How long is the boardwalk?

The total boardwalk length is about 3,000m (almost 2 miles). There are more than 20,000 2x6 deck boards, and it's all held together with more than 120,000 3" screws.

8. How was the boardwalk built over the wet areas?

In the winter? A Town of Hinton backhoe equipped with a 12" auger was used to drill through the ice. The backhoe operator used his bucket to push the posts down into the holes as far as they would go. In some areas there was no "bottom" and pushing had to be stopped before the post sank out of sight! In these areas the friction of wet soils against a 10' post provides support for the boardwalk.

9. What is the preservative on the wood?

The preservative is called Alkaline Copper Quarternary, or ACQ. The active ingredients are copper (a fungicide) and quarternary ammonium (an insecticide). ACQ is a more environmentally benign compound that has largely replaced harsher preservatives that contain arsenic.

10. How much did the Beaver Boardwalk cost?

Funding provided to date totals about $223,000. Adding in-kind contributions from partners ($16,000) and the value of volunteers ($60,000) brings the total to about $229,000.

11. Who provided the funding?

West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Forest Resource Improvement Program).......$52,660
Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta Open Funds...$60,000
Alberta Lottery Fund Community Initiatives Program............................$30,000
Town of Hinton...........................................................................................$28,271
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada......................................$ 7,500
Hinton Rotary Club.....................................................................................$ 1,000
TOTAL........................................................................................................$222,931

12. Who provided in-kind contributions?

Foothills Research Institute, Hinton Communities in Bloom, Teck, Whisky-jack Club.

13. Who came up with the idea to build the Beaver Boardwalk?

The original idea came from Rick Bonar, a biologist who works for West Fraser in Hinton. The concept was to provide public access into a fascinating natural ecosystem, for recreation and education.

14. Is there more work to do?

No! The Beaver Boardwalk is complete.

15. How many volunteers have worked on the Beaver Boardwalk?

More than 150 people donated their time to help build the Beaver Boardwalk. Hinton resident Rocky Morin, also known as Mr. Boardwalk donated more than 4 months to makind an idea come true.