Update 3/6 — Wally lives
Wally the Beaver’s days at Kingstowne Lake may be numbered.
The beaver has become something of a local mascot for some nearby residents, who recently launched a petition to Save Wally that has amassed over 1,000 verified signatures, as of press time. However, property owners and licensed wildlife experts say the beaver poses a danger to the local ecology, making its removal an unfortunate necessity.
According to nearby residents, Wally moved into the lake in September, setting up a dam and lodge just off the main trail around the perimeter of the pond — though wildlife experts and property management said it’s possible there’s more than one beaver at the site.
Natalie Auer, one of the authors of the “Save Wally — The Soul of Kingstowne Lake” petition, said the Friends of Kingstowne Lake heard in January that the Kingstowne Community Association — the association that governs the 14-acre, man-made stormwater management pond — was trying to get rid of the beaver.
However, the Virginia Code severely limits the options on how to deal with a beaver. The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) says moving beavers isn’t permitted, but owners are allowed to kill them without needing a permit if the beaver has caused damaged to property.
Auer admitted that Wally has been a busy beaver, causing damage to trees around the lake.
“It’s been cutting small trees in the woods,” Auer said. “He’s [cut down] trees — mostly pretty small, a couple are larger ones. I understand that he has taken his first planted tree or bush.”
While Wally was nowhere to be seen around the lake when this reporter scouted it out yesterday (Tuesday), the impacts were clear. Multiple trees sported Wally’s dental dents, and his lodge was visible just off the main trail.
An assessment from a licensed wildlife expert, forwarded to FFXnow by the Kingstowne Residential Owners Corporation (KROC), laid out the scope of Wally’s damage to the lake area.
“During an inspection on 3/4/2025, 60 trees varying from 2 inches to 8 inches in diameter were chewed down or actively being chewed on,” the wildlife expert reported. “Within the short time that the beaver(s) have been reported in the area, this is significant damage to the infrastructure of the retention pond, with potential to continue to spread along the banks and drains.”
According to the expert, if the beaver remains in the area, it will continue felling trees and eroding the bank of the pond. Two drains on the north side of the area had signs of beavers creating dams and food beds, while blocking other areas.
Because of state regulations, the wildlife expert said the only approved method of removal is the utilization of traps to humanely dispatch the animal.
But Auer said other residential developments, like Lake Barcroft, have found a way to live alongside local beavers. Auer said the Friends of Kingstowne Lake have offered to pay to install wire fencing or other measures to protect trees from Wally.
“We’re trying not to be totally unreasonable,” Auer said. “In Fairfax, there are people who are like, ‘you can’t kill any deer’ even though they’re killing trees. We’re trying to be reasonable about it, but so far, at least the damage is minimal and can be managed.”
Auer said there’s nothing that would stop another beaver from moving in after Wally is killed, but she also acknowledged concerns from management that Wally could find a mate, and the property would then have to deal with a family of tree-devouring beavers.
The wildlife expert said the base of each tree could be enclosed in metal screening up to four feet off the ground. However, it would be a “laborious” process that may lead the beaver to stay in the area and shift his attention to trees on neighboring properties.
“After this assessment, it is recommended to humanely trap and remove the beaver(s) from the area to prevent any further damage to the infrastructure,” the expert said.
Management at KROC shared a statement calling the capture and killing of the beaver a necessity to protect the pond.
Kingstowne Residential Owners Corporation is committed to responsible stewardship of our community’s natural and built environment. We partner with Kingstowne Commercial Owners Corporation through an entity called Kingstowne Community Association to manage the stormwater management pond.
Recently, a beaver(s) (there may be more than one) has been actively cutting down trees and constructing a dam in our stormwater management pond. While we respect and appreciate local wildlife, this activity poses risks to our stormwater infrastructure and the surrounding landscape.
After consulting with a licensed wildlife expert and evaluating all the options available to us, we accepted his advice that professional intervention is necessary to prevent further
damage and maintain the integrity of our stormwater system. The expert, who has obtained the required nuisance wildlife permit, has advised to humanely trap and remove the beaver(s) is the least disruptive and most effective solution.We understand that some residents are concerned about this approach. The decision was not made lightly, and we explored all feasible alternatives; however, given the risks posed by continued beaver activity—including potential flooding, tree loss, and infrastructure damage, this course of action is necessary to protect the community.
We remain committed to balancing environmental responsibility with community well-being and welcome constructive dialogue on this matter.
