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Ok, guys and gals. What I originally thought was a muskrat I have now confirmed as a young beaver. Which to me is odd as we do not have a large population and the nearest body of water (unless it is someone else's pond) that he/she could have come from is at least 3-4 miles away. My thoughts are to watch and observe for now. So far I see no damage. If he wants to chew down some of the willow tree's, great. He will save me some chainsaw work. Now a beaver lodge in my pond would make a nice fish attractor but if he starts to burrow into my damn then he will have to go. I have found his resting spot for now. Anyone got any thoughts on this, pro or con?
Last edited by Jeff Walker; 04/28/09 03:20 PM.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. Mark Twain
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Sneaky guy and a great pic!
When beaver cut trees, they usually leave a sharpened portion of the tree in the ground, so I don't know how you feel about 10" to 24" tall pointed sticks in the ground around the pond. My feeling is that he/she will have to go at some time because you won't be able to control where they den, nor what trees they cut although they prefer willow/cottonwood/aspen trees.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2002
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It's amazing the size of tree that they will fall. My boys and I were hiking in a remote area that had some old growth trees, there were many of this size taken down by beavers. You can see where my boy's foot is, a recent chewing incident. Shortly after I took this photo, we came upon an elk kill which always makes me nervous, I didn't show the boys the Grizzly bear tracks and made an excuse to quicken the pace.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Sure glad you and your boys got to the dinner party late Wood!!
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Wood, you sure that isn't porcupine? They make a mess of trees on our hunting land in PA. They'll strip bark off everything...
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Moderator Lunker
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Plus, porcupines LOVE to kill and eat elk.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Lunker
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Thank God I don't have to worry about Porcupine too!
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. Mark Twain
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Beavers are cool. That is, in a creek a long way away.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I would say its a positive as long as you don't mind them killing any tree that exists near your pond. In prairie country, I can't afford them to take out any trees, since there is little amount already. They tend to build their beaver dams out of cornstalks around this area because of lack of trees. Its fun watching them and hearing them slap their tail on the water. But as Dave said, they are cool to see elsewhere....
To Dam or not to dam That isn't even a question
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Lunker
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Well, may be a moot point now. Haven't seen it in 2 days. I guess I was just a rest stop. At least my boys got to see their first beaver in the wild in their own pond. Of course, now it's going to drive me nuts trying to figure out where he could have come from and where did he go.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. Mark Twain
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Maybe a chupacabra ate him? I hear their population is growing by feeding on beavers and stray cats...
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Every time we started hunting beavers they went nocturnal on us very quick. Did I mention that one tunneled a into our dam and cost a big chunck of money to have it repaired after the dam sprung a leak?
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Night vision scopes are getting pretty cheap these days... Even red filtered spot lights won't spook em.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Conibear 330 traps are even less $$ and they work 24/7.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Steel works that's for sure, I just love hot lead.
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