Now I have a beaver?
- Thread starter WoodChuckDad
- Start date
- Views: 6001
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Beavers need to have a home. Ideally, they like to build it in the middle of the pond so it's surrounded by water, but if that's not possible because the water is too deep, they will dig a home into the ground next to the pond with the entrance under the water so you can't see it. They don't really care if it's the dam or not, but since the slope of the dam is usually steeper then the rest of the pond, it becomes very attractive to them to dig there. Large earthen dams all have rip rap, or large chunks of concrete from the bottom of the dam all the way to the top to stop animals from digging into the dam. It also helps with erosion, but erosion is only at the surface of the pond, the underwater part is to stop digging.
I grew up water skiing in the SF Bay Area Delta, from Tracy to Sacramento. At one time, I knew all the main channels and where all the best places to ski where regardless of the wind, and where to party. California is a state with very restrictive hunting laws on everything except beavers. When I was there, you could shoot them with any weapon you wanted, any time of the day or night, every day of the year, and you could use spot lights to shoot them at night. There was no limit on how many you could shoot. Levi breaks happen a few times a year and they are always because of beavers getting past the concrete rip rap and digging their homes into the levee's. Eventually, they go too far and the water pushes through, then very quickly, the entire levee busts open.
On my pond, there is a creek behind my dam that flows to the Sabine River. Beavers travel up and down that creek, and dam it up in places. I guess that some make their homes in the banks, which are steep and well protected. I also figure that one day, one will do the same in my dam. They have taken down hundreds of trees, and every single rose bush at my gazebo. Who knew they ate rose bushes? But after it happened, I found out that they eat every woody type plant. In the last ten or twelve years, I've shot about 8 of them, and my wife has taken a couple too. If we see it, we shoot it. At 200 yards, it's a heck of a shot to heat the top of the head as it's moving across the water. If you miss, just wait, they will pop up again somewhere else.
Never assume, or hope for the best. Eventually you will regret it.
I grew up water skiing in the SF Bay Area Delta, from Tracy to Sacramento. At one time, I knew all the main channels and where all the best places to ski where regardless of the wind, and where to party. California is a state with very restrictive hunting laws on everything except beavers. When I was there, you could shoot them with any weapon you wanted, any time of the day or night, every day of the year, and you could use spot lights to shoot them at night. There was no limit on how many you could shoot. Levi breaks happen a few times a year and they are always because of beavers getting past the concrete rip rap and digging their homes into the levee's. Eventually, they go too far and the water pushes through, then very quickly, the entire levee busts open.
On my pond, there is a creek behind my dam that flows to the Sabine River. Beavers travel up and down that creek, and dam it up in places. I guess that some make their homes in the banks, which are steep and well protected. I also figure that one day, one will do the same in my dam. They have taken down hundreds of trees, and every single rose bush at my gazebo. Who knew they ate rose bushes? But after it happened, I found out that they eat every woody type plant. In the last ten or twelve years, I've shot about 8 of them, and my wife has taken a couple too. If we see it, we shoot it. At 200 yards, it's a heck of a shot to heat the top of the head as it's moving across the water. If you miss, just wait, they will pop up again somewhere else.
Never assume, or hope for the best. Eventually you will regret it.
Rustyiron
Super Member
I'm sure you know, but at 200 yards, a bullet can do a heck of a "skip" off the water if you miss.
(that's one heck of a shot on a swimming beaver):thumbsup:
gwstang
Platinum Member
I will be glad to tell you what they will do! They will of course gnaw some trees down...not too big. But then, they will girdle the larger hardwoods and then the big trees die from that. I don't know if they plan on dropping the trees at some point, or if they girdle them for food? The last pic is their "slide" that goes straight down to the lake, on my 70 acres. Really peezes me off because I lost so many trees (most) of any size in the April 2011 EF4 tornado that rearranged my world. Now the rodents have to do this. Ah yes, they also made 3 smaller dams up stream on the creek. So there are several mini ponds up there now. Varmints.
I guess I need to import some 'gators....I hear they like to snack on beaver...
I guess I need to import some 'gators....I hear they like to snack on beaver...
japody
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2013
- Messages
- 827
- Location
- Richmond & Boydton VA
- Tractor
- Ford 4000 & 5000, New Holland TN65, Mahindrda 2516
It is a hard shot from the side. I usually get the head on.
thepumpguysc
Elite Member
I live on a canal.. large enough to float a boat & it drains into a large lake..
My house sits up higher than my neighbors, 2 doors down..
We ended up w/ a beaver too.. but it choked off the water going to the main lake & backed up into my neighbors yard..
He called "the county" to take care of it..
They came w/ a BIG excavator, down on MY property,[I wasn't notified] down my driveway & destroyed the dam..
They left all the wood & mud piled up on the banks of the canal & left the beaver alone..
You wanna talk about STINK!!!! & the SKEETERS!!! OMG..
Anyway.. the little guy had his home built back in 2 weeks flat.. They had left all the materials right there.. & DIDNT trap the beaver..
That's the county for ya.. don't SOLVE the problem..
That was several years ago & he's still here.. I go down & use a pick axe to bust a hole in it when the water gets high enough to be a problem..
BUT> the varmit has the hole patched up in a few days..
It's NEVER a problem for me.. I live UP HI.. about 25 ft higher than the neighbor 2 doors down.. I just don't want the county comin on my property again..
That tracked excavator really screwed up my driveway.. took me weeks to level it back out..
My house sits up higher than my neighbors, 2 doors down..
We ended up w/ a beaver too.. but it choked off the water going to the main lake & backed up into my neighbors yard..
He called "the county" to take care of it..
They came w/ a BIG excavator, down on MY property,[I wasn't notified] down my driveway & destroyed the dam..
They left all the wood & mud piled up on the banks of the canal & left the beaver alone..
You wanna talk about STINK!!!! & the SKEETERS!!! OMG..
Anyway.. the little guy had his home built back in 2 weeks flat.. They had left all the materials right there.. & DIDNT trap the beaver..
That's the county for ya.. don't SOLVE the problem..
That was several years ago & he's still here.. I go down & use a pick axe to bust a hole in it when the water gets high enough to be a problem..
BUT> the varmit has the hole patched up in a few days..
It's NEVER a problem for me.. I live UP HI.. about 25 ft higher than the neighbor 2 doors down.. I just don't want the county comin on my property again..
That tracked excavator really screwed up my driveway.. took me weeks to level it back out..
riptides
Super Member
I trapped my beaver problem. I still set traps on occasion. Shooting, takes time. Trap is set and revisit. Less fuss, and I found just a "cleaner" kill. I use Conibear traps.
I started out thinking they would not be an issue. They quickly turned into a big problem. Just the tree clearing and brush clearing alone can be an issue. Especially for sapplings. The cut them off and it is pungy-stick dangerous.
I used chain link around the trees I determined to keep. The reason being, if there is one beaver, there will be more in the future.
Don't waste your time trying to destroy the dams. Poke a hole in it and set your traps. Let mother nature take care of the dam in time.
Good luck with it. And be careful.
I started out thinking they would not be an issue. They quickly turned into a big problem. Just the tree clearing and brush clearing alone can be an issue. Especially for sapplings. The cut them off and it is pungy-stick dangerous.
I used chain link around the trees I determined to keep. The reason being, if there is one beaver, there will be more in the future.
Don't waste your time trying to destroy the dams. Poke a hole in it and set your traps. Let mother nature take care of the dam in time.
Good luck with it. And be careful.
CobyRupert
Super Member
Never trapped them or shot one.
I've had a problem when them a few times, just took a ~8-9' pike pole (to save my feet from getting wet) and cleared a channel through their dam, early in the day for maximum water drainage before they fix it at night.
Of course they fix it, but after a few times they either give up or the low water lets a predator solve the problem.
I've had a problem when them a few times, just took a ~8-9' pike pole (to save my feet from getting wet) and cleared a channel through their dam, early in the day for maximum water drainage before they fix it at night.
Of course they fix it, but after a few times they either give up or the low water lets a predator solve the problem.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
My wife made that shot with her Remington 700 youth model rifle in 7mm-08 two years ago. The fountain of blood that went up at the shot was something to see. I've never shot one that far away, and half of them that I have shot where on the shoreline eating branches or something.
mjw
Member
I was a caretaker for a place that was purchased because of the nice lake on it.
Beavers moved in and dammed up the spillway, raising the lake several feet.
I tried to convince the land owner to remove the beavers and the dam.
His friends convinced him that the extra water was good.
I moved away, but several years later the dam got washed out during a flood.
I never got to see it, but I am sure that the blocked spillway was to blame.
It was a railroad pond built for steam locomotives, well built and had survived over 100 years and many floods.
My guess would be with the blocked spillway and extra water that the dam itself was finally breached.
A shame because the only reason the property was worth much was because of the lake.
Add in all the trees that were lost to the beavers.
Beavers moved in and dammed up the spillway, raising the lake several feet.
I tried to convince the land owner to remove the beavers and the dam.
His friends convinced him that the extra water was good.
I moved away, but several years later the dam got washed out during a flood.
I never got to see it, but I am sure that the blocked spillway was to blame.
It was a railroad pond built for steam locomotives, well built and had survived over 100 years and many floods.
My guess would be with the blocked spillway and extra water that the dam itself was finally breached.
A shame because the only reason the property was worth much was because of the lake.
Add in all the trees that were lost to the beavers.
