Trapping is used to reduce or even eliminate a colony of beavers. For long term damage control, barriers can be built in culverts and other structures to discourage building dams .

Beaver trapping is generally done using traps that quickly kill the animal. It is possible to catch beavers alive and relocate them although the trapping equipment and time is very expensive, and permission is needed from the land owner where the beaver will be released.

Identification

The beaver is a large, semi-aquatic rodent known for building dams and lodges. It has large, curved teeth, small ears, small front feet, large webbed back feet and a wide hairless tail The beaver is primarily nocturnal although may be seen a little before dark and after daylight.

Beavers build one or more dams using sticks, mud, rocks and other debris in creeks, rivers and pond spillways. The upstream side of the dam provides still, deep water to protect against predators, and to float food and building material.

Beavers live in either a lodge made of sticks, a bank den, or a combination of both. Entry to the lodge or den is underwater. Inside there is a shelf where the beaver can come out of the water.

The average adult beaver weighs 45-60 pounds. Beaver kits are born in the spring time, Apr-June.

In the summer, an average beaver colony consists of 6 beavers:

  • An adult breeding male and female pair
  • The two kits born the previous years’ spring who are now young adults
  • The two kits born the most recent spring

The kits born the previous year are forced out of the colony at the end of summer and beginning of fall. They go downstream or upstream or even across land to find a mate and start their own colony.  During winter, the average colony size is 4, two adults and two youngsters.

Nuisance Beaver Activity

Beaver damage can be noticed by:

  • Trees being partially or completely cut down leaving a sharp, dangerous stump
  • Bark being stripped off of trees
  • Construction of dams which raise water levels and floods property

Beavers attract predators like coyotes and bobcats, and the dams attract snakes.

Beavers use their castor glands to leave scent to define their territory. See video below of a beaver refreshing his castor mound.