Beaver how to!

[Boyd Brooks]

Having trouble deterring beavers from rebuilding a dam, that floods a marsh, which floods the road to camp.
Aside from trying to kill the beavers is there a way to deter them from rebuilding the dam?

 

[gbflyer]

We have a ditch in our town that is drainage for the airport. On occasion beavers will make a home there. The management has tried removing the dam with heavy equipment but they build it back. Finally had to get a permit for a local trapper. Took him about a week to clean them up.

 

[Hunt anything]

Try and insert a 6 inch pipe thru the bottom of the dam , on the upstream side of the dam cut 15 or 20 1 inch holes in the pipe. They can’t figure out how to plug the holes, as the water is leaving through the bottom of the dam and not the top. This works on some colonies but not on others. If it doesn’t work 330 conibare traps.

 

[CJW]

The problem with beavers is that they usually tend to just keep building. Remove it and they pull a Biden "build back better" attitude. Hunt anything's idea sounds promising and worth trying if you don't want to kill them.

Beavers can be pretty good jokesters. A few years ago I finally got permission from a couple who was having trouble with beavers. The problem was the ice was already forming so good trap locations were limited so I narrowed down a spot about 40 yds upstream of the pipe they were plugging but downstream of their dam. I narrowed it with sticks and put the 330 right in the center as the channel for them to swim through to get through the pipe. Do you think they tried going through, under, over, around the 330? Nope. They weren't even suspicious of it. I came back the next day and they had abandoned the pipe and started building a dam using my sticks and trap as a starter. They completely blocked off the 330 and even shoved sticks through it without setting it off. In the dark I had to deconstruct their dam and unbury/untangle my 330. Jokesters I tell ya.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Aside from trapping or shooting, perhaps an electric wire in the vicinity of the dam? My uncle used one to keep larger critters out of his yard.

Might try some rodent-repelling sprays?

 

[Bullthrower338]

Once again I was sucked into a thread with a catchy name and it turned out to be completely opposite of what my mind lead me to believe. But I guess the answer is still the same, very few things in life can’t be fixed with a proper application of high explosive. Plus it is fun! I had this same problem at my place in Montana and finally got tired of trying to persuade them to move along. A little DuPont and problem was solved, haven’t had a beaver problem since, at least the kind that build damns in your creek.

 

[Bearbait1]

The problem with inserting the small pipe is that you have drastically reduced the capacity of the culvert and if you get a heavy rain you may end up with a washed out road. A better option would be to put a 90 degree elbow on the culvert with the opening pointing down. It may work or may not. unless you are willing to constantly battle them the best option is to kill them. However, if there are other beaver in the area area others may eventually move in.

 

[IvW]

Beaver skin hats......

 

[Velo Dog]

I know that killing these giant and destructive rodents was not an option for the OP.
But, I submit the following in case the plan changes.
Here in The United State of Alaska, except for Kodiak Island, it is unlawful to use a firearm on beaver for whatever silly unknown reason.

So, a favorite trick here is to saturate your local beaver lodge with copious amounts of used frying grease, especially bacon grease.
You might or might not have to apply grease more than once or twice.
Eventually one or more bears will show up and destroy the beaver’s home sweet home, in their quest to catch and devour the pesky rodents.
I suppose it’s redundant to say that if the varmints are now only an ingredient in bear droppings, they likely will not be able to repair their dam after you dismantle it.

Note:
It is rumored that sitting quietly near the beaver pond, beginning at sundown, with a scoped, vintage Brno .22 Hornet is worthy of consideration.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Beaver skin hats......

Beaver skin shooting/possibles bag!

 

[thriller]

Having trouble deterring beavers from rebuilding a dam, that floods a marsh, which floods the road to camp.
Aside from trying to kill the beavers is there a way to deter them from rebuilding the dam?

Ah I have a design that works but I’ll have to write up how to build it in a little bit.

 

[fourfive8]

If it is legal to trap beaver and in an area where there are no neighborhood dogs or hikers/hunters with dogs- 330 conibear. Have a trapper show you how to do it if unfamiliar. That's the most humane and effective way to deal with beavers aside from direct shooting. That requires patience and a very accurate rifle or shotgun with something like #4 buckshot and spotlight at night. Since it is a waterway preferred by beavers it will have to be done once every year or few.

 

[375Fox]

Short answer is no. They are my Dad’s favorite animals. He loves them some reason. We wrap wire around certain trees to stop them chewing, but we’ve found no beaver proof solution to stop them blocking culvert pipes and overflows no matter what we tried. He actually extended a drain pipe running through the dam way out into the pond, put a T on the end, wire around all sides to stop them getting in. They chewed through the pipe to dam it off. It’s easier just to fix damage they do than try to stop them if you don’t want to kill them. Worst part is, beavers automatically know best spot to build a dam, so when you remove one colony, the next ones will just continue the work again. Left on their own, it’s pretty amazing what they will do, but they destroy anything man made.

 

[375Fox]

Ah I have a design that works but I’ll have to write up how to build it in a little bit.

I’d be really interested to see too

 

[CJW]

I know that killing these giant and destructive rodents was not an option for the OP.
But, I submit the following in case the plan changes.
Here in The United State of Alaska, except for Kodiak Island, it is unlawful to use a firearm on beaver for whatever silly unknown reason.

So, a favorite trick here is to saturate your local beaver lodge with copious amounts of used frying grease, especially bacon grease.
You might or might not have to apply grease more than once or twice.
Eventually one or more bears will show up and destroy the beaver’s home sweet home, in their quest to catch and devour the pesky rodents.
I suppose it’s redundant to say that if the varmints are now only an ingredient in bear droppings, they likely will not be able to repair their dam after you dismantle it.

Note:
It is rumored that sitting quietly near the beaver pond, beginning at sundown, with a scoped, vintage Brno .22 Hornet is worthy of consideration.

Can you shoot them if it's your land?

 

[CJW]

haven’t had a beaver problem since, at least the kind that build damns in your creek.

Penicillin is a miracle isn't it?

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Yes, unfortunately where I live you need a trappers license to take fur bearing animals. They are not plugging a culvert they are damming a creek in the bush.
Love the bacon fat idea as I already have a bear bait beside this creek not far from the lodge.
Since 911, CIL wobblers are impossible to get. Was thinking about maybe making my own black powder and trying that.
Thanks for the input.
Surprised no talk of hairy beavers or bald beavers or how to eat beaver, this group is getting very pedestrian!

 

[BeeMaa]

If you are allowed to shoot them, they could be useful as a training exercise for shooting game on the move. Load up some 375 (or 458 because they can be dangerous), set up the sticks and drill 'em.

OK, just read the above post...no shooting fur bearing animals for you. Conibear 330 all day long and a trapping license is pretty cheap. A hell of a lot cheaper than getting caught trapping without one. Good luck and post some pics.

 

[CJW]

Surprised no talk of hairy beavers or bald beavers or how to eat beaver, this group is getting very pedestrian!

Give it a couple pages.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Penicillin is a miracle isn't it?

More of mental problems! Lol.