Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Beavers clogging overflow pipe!!

Hi everybody....I'm new to the board...found you guys in my search to correct a problem I have with my pond.

I own a piece of property in Georgia.....7 acres....with a pond about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre in size. The pond has an overflow pipe about 2 feet in diameter...covered by a heavy duty metal box cage.

My problem is this.....there is a family of beavers that are in the area and they keep clogging the metal box surrounding the overflow pipe up and this causes the pond level to rise and go over the spillway. While this would not be a problem if I lived nearby....it's a huge problem because eventually I think this will cause the spillway to collapse and then I'll have a much bigger problem.

The fellow that looked after the property for the previous owner said he had a trapper out on the property to take a look at the beaver situation and he said that unless someone lived there full time....getting rid of the beavers would not be possible.

So that being said.....do you knowledgeable folks have any design suggestions for my overflow pipe that is "Beaver Proof"??

Thanks in advance for your help.

Joe

welcome PB BigLuke.

throwing some deterrant ideas out there ................could the metal cage be electrified? or could one of those things that makes a noise to get rid of rodents be mounted on it? or could you install a ring of razor wire around it? or stock an alligator? :rolleyes:

Welcome Big Luke,
You're right, the beavers will cause big problems if not taken care of. Talk to Bob Lusk or Dave Davidson and many others on this site for the best info.

Check your local wildlife regulations but as far as I know, trapping and or shooting seem to work the best. Beavers are primarily nocturnal so you'll have to get them at night with a red spotlight. Can you find their lodge? If so destroy it and maybe they'll get the hint and move on. I did that on my neighbors place a couple of weeks ago and the beavers left post haste!

BigLuke,

12 gage 00 Buckshot works fine. Set up a beaver watching party about sunset. Dead beavers stuff no drains!

Gator

i dont think BigLuke spends enough time at pond for beaver watching parties, sounds like he's looking for either engineering ideas for overflow pipe, or some kind of deterrant that'l work when no one's there, if thats possible.

I have no idea what an overflow pipe is but seems that a chain type fence erected a few feet out from that pipe extending around it might be something that would work.

maybe this will offer some ideas
http://www.fsiculvert.com/Beaverstop-AD-3-54.pdf#search=\'preventing%20beaver%20dams\'

For a second, I thought you were talking about the neighbor's lodge.

incidently i was long SILC from about a week ago...up 31% this morning

yoli,I hope you sold at 8.93...time to short that baby.

That is exactly correct. I need a solution for a property that I will visit maybe twice a year for now. I have family nearby that I can ask to check on it from time to time but I don't want to be a pain in the butt.

Just to be clear....the pipe is verticle in the ground with it elbowing and then going through one side of the pond and out into a stream. On top of the pipe is a heavy duty rebar type box covering it.

Dang BigLuke - You need to get out more often (just kidding)! BigLuke - I had a design that may help, check out the photo:



This design keeps the trash from going into the pipe. If you put a screen on the top and bottom of the outer pipe - this will prevent your furry friends from clogging the stand pipe.

Gator

What Gator says is the only "humane" way that I know of to handle things.

Don't constrict the pipe or allow them to constrict it. It is there for a purpose. The only way to control them is to consider them as pests and subject to lethal measures. If you're not going to be there, hire it done. They generally come out right at twilight.

that looks heavy duty. i'll ask the dumb question.....how is the outer pipe connected to the inner pipe?

if you screened the outer pipe, is there any chance debris could build up and block water flow to inner pipe?

DD1, Agreed.

DIED - The outer Pipe had cross braces which were welded to the inner pipe.

As the water level water rises up under the bottom of the outer pipe and drains down into the small drain pipe. The inner pipe is slightly higher than the bottom of the outer pipe. In the picture you can see the normal water level ring, it is slightly lighter color. The water would rarely go over the top, only in a flood situation. Since the water drains by coming under the outer pipe - there is really nowhere for the debris to catch. BUT – Those beaver can clog up anything if they have a desire to do so…

BigLuke – The beavers may decide they like your pond well enough to make it home and start digging in your banks/dam. They make an awful mess. I will post pictures this week as I had to hire a backhoe for dam repairs from my beaver problem. Best of luck to you.

Gator

FYI - I checked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife game biologist before evicting my beavers. He explained to me that they are considered a pest and that they (TPW) have a shoot on site policy for beavers. This may not apply to other areas of the country...

Gator

Thanks guys.....keep em coming....I need all the help I can get against these little buggers.

Just bumping it up to see if anyone else has any ideas.....thanks again guys.

How close is the drain to the shore?(are you sure its beavers clogging it or just their floating debris). I recently saw a show of beavers as nusiances. It talked about building beaver proof fences around road culverts. They are attracted to the sound of running water and have an instinct to try and stop it. They also like building at perpendicular angles therefore fence built like a triangle not square to try and deter damming stream. I think the show was on Discovery channel.

The overflow pipe is about 10 feet from shore.

I've seen those types of fences built around drains but I would think that over time the beavers would just build up debris around the fence and clog it that way.

Thoughts?

Big Luke:

It is a little difficult to solve your problem without seeing your overflow device, but our organization (Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife) highly recommends a pipe and cage method that is explained at our website: BeaversWW.org on the solution page. It is normally used for culverts and dams, but could be used for pond overflow devices. Check out our web page and then give us a call or send a photo via email: Owen@BeaversWW.org. We also have detailed instructions on making a pipe and cage system: written and DVD.

Bump......any other thoughts?

And a Happy Thanksgiving to all.....