Beavers

[JohnS]

WOW, just curious, how big of pond (acres) did they make? I hope the ones that have started on my property, don't become as industrious as yours! While I do want some ponds on the property, not the type or location I would have prefered.

 

[MossRoad]

Moles primary food is earthworms. Grubs are apparently tasty, too. Check this guy out. He is the "authority" on mole removal. Best site I ever found dealing with moles. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.themoleman.com/>http://www.themoleman.com/</A>

I followed his advice and killed 29 moles two years ago, 50+ last year and around 20 this year. We had a drought and the moles went deep. Now that it is moist again, they are back.

As for beavers, the Army Corp of Engineers removed some beaver dams from a local state park many years ago. They used bangalore torpedos. Apparently, all of them did not go off and one was discovered by some hikers about 15 years later, while crossing a beaver dam. They looked it over, saw that it said torpedo on the side and did the prudent thing........

They hauled it out of there, carried it to their car, put it in the trunk and drove it to the police station/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Fortunately it didnt' go off. The police went back and found one more still in the beaver dam.

 

[riptides]

You mean they didn't shoot at it first? Or try and light it on fire?

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

They hauled it out of there, carried it to their car, put it in the trunk and drove it to the police station Fortunately it didnt' go off. The police went back and found one more still in the beaver dam.

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HAHAHAH. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
-Mike Z.
I should get a picture this w/e of our little pond.

 

[rps]

Here is a link that might be helpful. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://deal.unl.edu/icwdm/handbook/handbook/rodents/ro_b1.pdf>Beaver damage management</A>
This is a chapter from the authority on wldlife damage management. No B.S. here.

I hope this is helpful.

Robert

 

[Anonymous Poster]

As a innocent teen in the late 70's, I didn't really understand the slogan "Save a tree, eat a Beaver"

 

[cchoate]

I've been at war with beaver for 2 years now. In short- they dam up a crick on my property and it floods over most of my land and driveway. Whenever I'd tear a hole in the monster dam it was good as new the next mourning.
I proved them to be a nusince and got a special permit from the conservation dept to trap them.
I'd line the crick with steel stakes except for 1 hole they could swim through. In that hole I'd have the largest coniber trap I could buy and anchor it well. In 2 years, I've trapped 5, one of which weighed 55lbs. They only show up in the spring and after I've trapped a few, no more show up the rest of the year.

 

[Argee]

The pond is about two acres. It's in a good location for me (at the back corner of the property). I had them trapped for a couple of years just to slow them down. Now there is a couple still there for maintenance. We had a windstorm a couple of years ago that blew down a lot of poplar trees (their primary food supply) that were near the pond. So I had the area logged out so the oaks and maples could get a foothold. Sold the timber and still have the pond and a terrific hunting spot. I'd say I got the best of both worlds. Now they're going after my neighbors poplars on the other side of the pond./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[riptides]

I find the neighboors usually complain about my methods of
removal, until, the beavers show up on their lots. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

-Mike Z.

 

[JohnS]

I have till next spring to decide if I will fight them or adapt to them. Given some of the posts, I am leaning toward adapting. Their current location will require me to make some new tractor trails, but that will probably be just a weekend rental of a 6' dozer. The kids have lost their swimming hole, but that should only be building a digger dam further upstream. The area has always been on the swampy side, and the current trails provided access to cut dead trees down, clear brush, and provide a nice circular property walking path. I don't believe they will move further upstream. Their source of food and building supplies disappear as it turns to open fields bordering the stream. If they did move up, I would be forced to take action. At this point, not sure I am willing to get into a long term conflict/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif or an all out war!

On the plus side, I have already seen additional wildlife due to or inpart to the dam construction. A heron and a couple of species of ducks, have been spoted numerous times. Deer and fox have been seen more regular in the nearby field, ie pushed upstream for easier stream crossing. Also thought I saw a river otter, or at least a similar type animal, dart infront of the tractor, and quickly disappear in the brush. It will also make it harder for tresspassers to cross onto my property, without being noticed. That is, unless they brought some waders with them/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.