Jyoutz was right, dang it, I was hoping it would more of a mystery, because there sure are a lot of people in Washington who don't know about one of their "residents"
Yes they are "mountain" beavers which don't have a tail, don't care for water (ponds). I don't even know if they are genetically related to "real" beavers.
They live in wagon wheel underground excavations. They don't come near the lawn because they like the rough areas. They stay away from people if they can smell them, as they can't seem to see or hear very well. I've only seen one near the buildings one time. I walked up to it just so I could see what it looked like up close. It couldn't see me or didn't see me as a threat, just ignored me, wanted it to turn around so it could get a look at it's face and shouted at it, no result. Finally it "smelled" me and spun around hissing, then turned it's back to me and waddled off!
That's a good defense, make a scary noise then turn your back and waddle off! They are competing with the rabbits and some other animal in excavating contests. The rabbit holes and beaver holes look similar, like if a dog could dig a tunnel, all the dirt thrown up behind it. We also have moles (which do like the lawn/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif). Then there's the mystery animal...It makes mounds that put any mole to shame. It looks like a mole hill but is HUGE, like a large wheelbarrow of topsoil dumped on the ground, hole is big enough to stick your arm down without it touching sides. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif.
Speaking of moles, I hate killing them too, but they find the island of topsoil I made to have a lawn an ideal place. I like to least keep the area around the house intact. Are there any old "wives" tales (or farmer's knowledge) that works to deter them. Has anyone successfully used some sort of live trap? The killer traps that snap shut work of course, I guess I'm somewhat of a rarity but I get no joy out of killing.
We share our property with an occasional racoon, coyote, deer, weasel, they don't seem to pay us any mind.
Our other property is more wild, we were up there once with the tractor and motorhome, the dog wouldn't stop barking, I finally went outside and told it to shut up (it slept under the motorhome). Next day happened to be looking around the fresh road I made, it looked like a deer stampede had gone through and we found some prints we thing were a bear, 4 very deep visible "prong" holes and a HUGE palm print. YIKES. And I was yelling at the dog to shutup, she was probably thinking...
"If you don't want me barking at THAT thing, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"
I don't tell her to shut up anymore/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
