got beaver

[farmerpsv]

hey all,
bought a piece of land that has a couple of nice creeks and beaver. i havn't actually seen them yet, just all the dams they've made and trees they've felled. i hear they're pretty wiley, anytime i'm around, they're not. so, how do you get rid of beaver? eventually i'll make a pond where they are now making swamp.
thanks,
paul

 

[L3650]

Trap them. I too had a beaver problem on some land in northern Wisconsin. I found someone who came in and set traps. I had three colonoies (or family groups) that had moved up the creek. Two of the colonies were bank beavers - they did not build the traditional hut. The third colonony built the hut in the middle of the creek. They munched through about five acres of poplar and willow. All the beavers are gone, and none have moved in to replace them. Now I'm left with four dams that are flooding out about 10 acres of spruce and poplar. I want to find someone who can blow the dams, but no luck yet. Digging them out is tough work. Those dams are built! On the positive side, they now serve as natural funnels for deer travel. I have built one stand that covers both. Seen deer, bear, coyotes, porkies, racoons and other criters using them. But, they have to go. Best bet is to stay ahead of the beavers. Someone has since told me that beavers are shy and don't like alot of activity. Take a chain saw or mower and go to work near the beaver and see if they move on.

 

[farmerpsv]

L3650
thanks for the input. the dams are strong, i crossed over about 30' of them fording the creek, like walking on a bridge. they can take out some trees! theres one oak in particular about 18" diameter that they munched leaving about 5", which is still holding the tree up, odd sight.
paul

 

[bczoom]

Paul,

Do a search on the subject on www.countrybynet.com. I recall there was a very good thread on this issue.

Brian

 

[MarkV]

Paul, you may want to check your state for their position on beaver removal. Here in Georgia they are considered over populated and a nuisance. The DNR here goes as far as offering recommendations on how to trap or shoot them. There is also no season or license required.

It isn’t that easy in other states. I have read they are somewhat protected in some areas and even when they are flooding valuable ag land owners are not allowed to take them or their dams out.

Best to know the local rules before being to vocal about removing them. Your best time to spot them will be right before dark. They have good eyes and hearing so stealth mode is normally required to get close.

MarkV

 

[BarryinMN]

If the dams are blocking water & risking roadbeds the county or state DOT may come in and trap them then swim a backhoe out & tear out the dams.

Happened to me last year & all they wanted was permission to access the land. The county engineer was adamant that beavers were faster & harder working than his employees!

 

[Junkman]

In MA, beavers are considered a endangered species just about and have all sort of protections for them. You can't break up there dams, you can't kill them, trap them, or do anything that will hurt them or there environment. In short, the beaver have a better lobby than the hunters and land owners. In MA, you really don't own your land, you just borrow it from the state and do only what they allow you to do with the land. It is a sad state of affairs... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Charolais]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( so, how do you get rid of beaver? )</font>

12 ga. shotgun and some #1 buckshot. Go there just after dark and take a good light. If it's a family(of beavers) there will most times be 7 of them. Kill 4 or 5 and the rest will leave. You can break the dam just a little so the water level will start to fall. Sit close by the water flow and be still. Once they detect the water level falling they will come (night or day). Be ready to shoot fast.

If you plan to build a pond on that stream be prepared to get rid of them or put up with them. I unplugged a 22" stand pipe they had stopped up around 1 pm. I went back at 5 pm and it was plugged again. I got 5 friends together with spotlights and shotguns that night. We wipe them out. 3 years later another bunch moved in. This time they dammed the pipe and spillway. Had heavy rains and almost lost the pond. Got the guys together and went to war with them again.

If you build a pond on a stream and you don't want beavers cut all the trees back far enough so they won't come there. If you don't you'll have problems every few years.

They can ruin a lot of high dollar timber fast. Not so much the cutting of trees but putting the water level up on the trees.

We were free of beavers here until the mid 70's. Va. game and inland fisheries released them all across the state. Some were even dropped from planes in little boxes that broke open once they hit the ground. The boxes were connected to a small parachute. Been at war with them every since. Our tax dollar at work. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Some are big too. The largest one I killed was 49 pounds and was 57" long.

 

[Alan L.]

If I was in Massachusetts they'd just have to haul my a$$ to jail. Any dams on my property will be torn down, and any beavers that I can get in my sights will be killed. Would like to trap them live, but have been told it nigh impossible.

They beavers have managed to kill several good trees adn they continue the damage almost every night.

I don't like killing animals, but MY property is MY property and I doubt I would comply with any rule that won't allow me to take care of it.

 

[riptides]

IIRC in Virginia you will need a permit to get rid of them.
You should call your game warden, perhaps he/she will declare them a PEST.

Here is a string of information you should read.
Beaver Removal

Good luck, BTW where are you in VA?

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif