Very serious wildlife question: beaver dams

mister_universe
mister_universe Posts: 6,664 Member
edited November 12 in Chit-Chat
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?
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Replies

  • lukasmac
    lukasmac Posts: 216 Member
    Contact your local wildlife conservation department for a possible relocation of the beaver. done.
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    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
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    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
    FatHuMan1 Posts: 1,028 Member
    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.
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    Contact your local wildlife conservation department for a possible relocation of the beaver. done.
    tumblr_m85bw9fGtf1rqfhi2o1_500.gif
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    Shoot it.
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    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
    GorillaNJ Posts: 4,024 Member
    Can you get dynamite?
  • arghbowl
    arghbowl Posts: 1,179 Member

    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
    cedarblack Posts: 63 Member
    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
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    Can you get dynamite?

    Yeah, I thinking this needs to turn explosive.
  • arghbowl
    arghbowl Posts: 1,179 Member
    I love to eat beaver.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    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
    BarbellBlondieRuns Posts: 511 Member
    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
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Beaver makes a fine hat.

    Rigger
  • AZ_Gato
    AZ_Gato Posts: 1,270 Member
    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
    FatHuMan1 Posts: 1,028 Member
    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
    sassyrayofsunshine Posts: 499 Member
    Beaver makes a fine hat.

    ^this. wear it proudly :)
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
    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
    beernpizza2 Posts: 553 Member
    Can you get dynamite?

    Is this America? Hell yes he can get dynamite!!
  • Unknown
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  • SpeSHul_SnoflEHk
    SpeSHul_SnoflEHk Posts: 6,256 Member
    Nice euphemism.

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

    Just break up.
  • adlace
    adlace Posts: 375 Member
    Maybe Primus can help you. They wrote a song about someone with a troublesome beaver...

    primus-o.gif
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • FatHuMan1
    FatHuMan1 Posts: 1,028 Member
    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:


    dc450c9d-5c40-4819-9208-951d991f09d4_zps817a5b28.jpg
  • SpeSHul_SnoflEHk
    SpeSHul_SnoflEHk Posts: 6,256 Member
    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
    jenn26point2 Posts: 429 Member
    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
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    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
    dcarr67 Posts: 1,403
    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!!
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