Well I got out to the lake today. The beavers hadn't rebuilt the dam much, they filled in the center channel and even the dam back up, but it is still 6"-8" lower than it was before, and the dam is 2"-3" above water level right now.
I suspect that the beavers will work on the dam more after some rains when it starts overflowing again.
Stopped in at Rural King (local farm store) and walked right into a display of traps, 330's were $16.99. Never seen them in the store before.
Paul was down with some friends. As soon as I got there I mentioned that the water was definately down from before the dam deconstruction (You could see 8" of the duck blind was wet but drying out from being flooded, but there is still a couple of feet under water).
Someone mentioned that he wouldn't have removed the dam (this didn't suprise me considering the source). After I explained that the pond was onto the neighbors property (as best I can tell), It was then explained to me that the beavers were 'just building the dam to protect the lake from the river overflowing and flooding out there lodge'.
How can I argue with logic like that.
This persons thinking was just let them dam up and flood the whole property.
Paul was also convinved by 'someone' that taking fish out of the lake was a 'Bad Thing', so it is C&R for now.
I had 15+ jugs ready to go and was looking forward to seeing what else was in the lake, it's only been bass fished so far, with lot's of the same size bass caught from what I've heard. Better not remove those 'breeders'.
So I gave up and went for a walk to see if I could find the dead 4 pointer. No suprise it wasn't there any more.
Oh yeah, beavers.
I did get out in Pauls jon boat after dark when every body went to town. Made it over to the beaver lodge and chased some beavers in the water.
I saw/heard at least 3 beavers (saw 2 at once and heard another one way off). I'd chase them with the boat for a minute until they decided to dive and swim away. I'm pretty sure there were more, from all the big splashing I heard, but definately 3. The ones I saw were small, maybe 20-30 pounds, definately nothing like what cliffbrook posted. I'm guessing that they are the juveniles, I heard what sounded like larger ones, but they stayed further away and I didn't see them.
Seemed like cruising their lodge was a good way so rile them up, they seemd to come alive even from other parts of the lake.
I'm guessing that the big tail splash is a warning call?
If I had only had a second person with a good spotlight and a 12 guage with buck shot (#4 has been recomended) there would have been at least 1 dead beaver, I could get real close to them before they dived.
On my walk I found more trees the beavers are feeding on. So many of the big trees that Paul has are being killed by the beavers, bark eating off part way or all the way around the tree.
They need to go, or there will never be another timber harvest here.
Oh well we shall see what happens.
Matt
