Saw a beaver in the pond today....
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EddieWalker
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One way or another, you HAVE to get rid of that beaver. Trees grow back, that's not the problem. A beaver has to have a home. If he cannot build one out of sticks, he will tunnel into the ground. Beaver homes in the ground are the number one reason for dam failure!!!!!!
In California, they have a huge system of levies and canals built up around the Central Valley that we just call the Delta. Both sides are lined with rip rap. basically large chunks of concrete. This is there to stop erosion and beavers from tunneling into the sides of the canals. Every year they have to repair the levies because of beaver homes weakening them to the point they fail. Farms flood, roads are ruined and it costs a lot of money to fix.
California is probably one of the least hunter friendly states out there. Tons or rules and regulations that most people in other states wouldn't believe. But when it comes to the beaver, there are practically no rules. You can shoot them with anything, any time of the day or night, with lights, year round without a limit. I've been out with a State Trapper, and a buddy married to a game warden. It's just amazing how many of them there are out there when it gets dark out and you are shining lights on the water. Eyes everywhere!!!
Back to your pond and your beaver. It is just a matter of time until they dig into your dam. That is the softest dirt for them, and usually steepest. This is ideal for their purposes of creating a tunnel and then a cave big enough to store food and to sleep in. Over time, it will get bigger, and your dam will become weaker. You will never find it, and you will never know it's there until the day it fails. KILL IT NOW!!!!!
My wife and I shoot a couple beavers a year on average. They can be the easiest thing in the world if you find them on land, or at the edge of the water eating. Or they can be extremely challenging if all you can see is the top of their head swimming. I consider myself to be a decent shot, but that's a tough shot. Especially if it's a small beaver and it's over a hundred yards away!!
Do not use a .22 We use our deer rifles. If we have the AR with us, we'll use that, but so far, haven't had the opportunity. We carry the AR mostly for coyotes. Nothing worse then going for a walk and seeing a coyote just standing there watching you at 50 yards. Yes, that has happened.
In California, they have a huge system of levies and canals built up around the Central Valley that we just call the Delta. Both sides are lined with rip rap. basically large chunks of concrete. This is there to stop erosion and beavers from tunneling into the sides of the canals. Every year they have to repair the levies because of beaver homes weakening them to the point they fail. Farms flood, roads are ruined and it costs a lot of money to fix.
California is probably one of the least hunter friendly states out there. Tons or rules and regulations that most people in other states wouldn't believe. But when it comes to the beaver, there are practically no rules. You can shoot them with anything, any time of the day or night, with lights, year round without a limit. I've been out with a State Trapper, and a buddy married to a game warden. It's just amazing how many of them there are out there when it gets dark out and you are shining lights on the water. Eyes everywhere!!!
Back to your pond and your beaver. It is just a matter of time until they dig into your dam. That is the softest dirt for them, and usually steepest. This is ideal for their purposes of creating a tunnel and then a cave big enough to store food and to sleep in. Over time, it will get bigger, and your dam will become weaker. You will never find it, and you will never know it's there until the day it fails. KILL IT NOW!!!!!
My wife and I shoot a couple beavers a year on average. They can be the easiest thing in the world if you find them on land, or at the edge of the water eating. Or they can be extremely challenging if all you can see is the top of their head swimming. I consider myself to be a decent shot, but that's a tough shot. Especially if it's a small beaver and it's over a hundred yards away!!
Do not use a .22 We use our deer rifles. If we have the AR with us, we'll use that, but so far, haven't had the opportunity. We carry the AR mostly for coyotes. Nothing worse then going for a walk and seeing a coyote just standing there watching you at 50 yards. Yes, that has happened.
Actually it's far worse to go for a walk in the woods to make out only to get eaten alive by mosquitoes and black flies :laughing: the coyote he'll just watch.
BoylermanCT
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I would wait to see if he sticks around before automatically shooting him. I have a pond and a beaver comes to visit a few months a year. Eats the shoots of bushes growing along the edge keeping the pond clean. Then he moves on and causes no damage. On the plus side, beavers only live in excellent water quality so if he does stay, your pond has great water.
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Looking4new
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Like shooting fish in a barrel. Trap it then shoot it.
TripleR
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We've been trying to get rid of beavers for years, even had a trapper come in. They are heck on trees and stop up the overflow causing the dam to be topped and wash our road out.
Well that would probably work too :| although ours ended up living in zoo's all around the world.
Sprinklerman
Platinum Member
I live in suburbia , half way between Balto and Annapolis . There are 2 beaver dams within a mile of each other . There is a big lodge . It has dammed a small steam , made a nice little pond . Now we have all kinds of stupid rules regarding building in the Chesapeake bay watershed and critical areas. So I sent in a complaint to the county . Cutting trees in a critical area , building in a waterway without a permit , destroying a habitat .
Looking4new
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Dynamite works on beaver houses, too.
Oh and regarding trapping and shooting them. Don't get caught shooting them in the trap. Up here you would be in for a world of grief from the game warden.
Oh and regarding trapping and shooting them. Don't get caught shooting them in the trap. Up here you would be in for a world of grief from the game warden.
