LITTLETON — Beavers are making themselves at home and causing flooding problems along several town roads.

Representatives of the Littleton Off Road Riders asked town selectmen for permission last fall to trap beavers whose dams were flooding a snowmobile trail along Brickyard Road.

Permission was granted, but beavers are still a problem this year and are now causing issues along Railroad Street as well.

At the May 14 selectmen's meeting, Town Manager Fred Moody said additional flooding on Railroad Street prompted a request to trap beavers in that area.

According to meeting minutes, Moody said there was another problem on Mill Street and trapping has been requested there, but it may not even be on town property.

Town staff met with consultants to discuss the beaver home at Dell's Pond, its dam, and culverts along Brickyard Road.

Possible alternatives to trapping include widening roads or shifting their path to allow for flooding. Other options could be to lower the water level behind the dam or reroute the affected trail, which would require permission from nearby landowners.

Trapping and relocating of the beavers was discussed when the question first came up last fall, but residents felt the rodents would simply move back to their original territory.

Beavers mate in January or February and give birth April to June. Average litters are four kits, but may be as many as nine, prompting concern about population growth.

Bob Mancini of state Fish and Game Department addressed a selectmen's meeting last fall. According to the minutes, he told the selectmen the traps to be used would kill the beavers almost instantly.

Selectmen chair Marghie Seymour voted against trapping approval last year and pushed for a solution to keep the rodents alive.

Selectmen voted 2-1 in favor of allowing trapping last year with the condition the feasibility of lowering water levels would be studied further.

Results of the meeting with consultants will be presented to the selectmen this week.