Very serious wildlife question: beaver dams

mister_universe

Hi all.

In the south central area of my property, there's one lone tree that has been there for forty years or more, since well before I can remember, anyway. It's a good tree, solid and hearty, and since it's the only one on the property, I've cared for it carefully over the years. I've put a fair amount of time pruning it, keeping it disease free, and giving it the right kind of nutrients to grow up big and strong.

For many years there's been a small stream running through the property, and the tree derived a lot of moisture from the stream. Just recently, a small female beaver (near as I can tell it's just one) has taken up residence, building a dam that not only blocks the moisture that my tree would receive, but diverts it to a neighbor's property!

So what should I do about my beaver dam? I consider it mine, as it's on my property, but I'm afraid that if I just go out and destroy it that the beaver will be left homeless, and I've grown kind of fond of her even if she is a pain.

Thoughts?

lukasmac

Contact your local wildlife conservation department for a possible relocation of the beaver. done.

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

Does the tree ever branch out? I mean sometimes those beavers chew on the roots, and you just can't have that. The tree may have to seek alternative sources of moisture. Most do eventually anyway. It just depends how long the tap root is, really.

HTH

jacksonpt

Can you divert the water back onto your property? I'd love to be able to keep both a great old tree and a beaver dam on my land.

FatHuMan1

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

PennyM140

shoot and eat it?

SailorKnightWing

Contact your local wildlife conservation department for a possible relocation of the beaver. done.

JennaM222

Shoot it.

JennaM222

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

GorillaNJ

Can you get dynamite?

arghbowl

So what should I do about my beaver dam? I consider it mine, as it's on my property, but I'm afraid that if I just go out and destroy it that the beaver will be left homeless, and I've grown kind of fond of her even if she is a pain.

Thoughts?

Beaver. Can't live with em, & can't live without em.

cedarblack

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

TRUTH

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

Can you get dynamite?

Yeah, I thinking this needs to turn explosive.

arghbowl

I love to eat beaver.

tigersword

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

I feel like this thread was specifically set up for this response. Well played. :drinker:

BarbellBlondieRuns

Haha! Want me to ask my beaver trapper husband? He's a beaver expert. Loves going out beaver scouting and trapping with his buddies.

navyrigger46

Beaver makes a fine hat.

Rigger

AZ_Gato

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

Confucius said that...he was a wise man. Never underestimate the power that beaver has over a man.

FatHuMan1

Haha! Want me to ask my beaver trapper husband? He's a beaver expert. Loves going out beaver scouting and trapping with his buddies.

Don't we all, don't we all.

sassyrayofsunshine

Beaver makes a fine hat.

^this. wear it proudly

redheaddee

I hear beaver tail is delicious. Seriously. We are having the same problem on our property and they are tearing up the natural dam between our two ponds. The hubby plans on hunting it this weekend.

beernpizza2

Can you get dynamite?

Is this America? Hell yes he can get dynamite!!

Unknown

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SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

Nice euphemism.

I hate it when my beaver diverts all the moisture to my neighbors tree,

Just break up.

adlace

Maybe Primus can help you. They wrote a song about someone with a troublesome beaver...

Unknown

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FatHuMan1

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

I feel like this thread was specifically set up for this response. Well played. :drinker:

SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

hmmm. Has anyone ever destroyed a beaver's dam? I don't know if that is recommended. I mean if the beaver needs the dam, you want to make sure it is intact. Who knows what you might get otherwise.

jenn26point2

A man's propensity to grow fond of a beaver will always lead to the demise of his stout wood. It's just the way life is. Accept it.

I feel like this thread was specifically set up for this response. Well played. :drinker:

In b/c this is too good. And b/c of these two responses.

MyChocolateDiet

Meh, beavers like wood. It's the natural order of things. You would be wise to remember that it was man who first encroached on beaver territory and not ony began to deprive them of wood when they found other uses for it that suited their own selfish endeavors, but to add insult to injury began donning beaver tail on their heads as hats. Such a blow.

My advice to you in your current situation as described is to allow the beaver to use the wood as she sees fit. It's the least you can do after encroaching on her territory with your big old property. If she wants to build dams with it, let her. If the flow is not to your liking go out exploring again and find another property with either no beavers or one whose dam building is more to your liking. Please remember too that to beavers wood is an integral part of life. Don't be surprised that your big tree is so appealing to this beaver. When you consider the creative streak that a beaver must carry out is it not natural and right that when a beaver does find a large piece of resources in one place that beaver would decide to set up camp there?

Excuse me now, while I go attend my Paint with All The Colors of the Wind art class at the local rec center. I still remember when we just actually painted outdoors. Man, times have changed.

dcarr67

Does the tree ever branch out? I mean sometimes those beavers chew on the roots, and you just can't have that. The tree may have to seek alternative sources of moisture. Most do eventually anyway. It just depends how long the tap root is, really.

HTH

Awesome!!