How To Get Rid of Beavers Yourself
Beavers are best at building strong dams, but this also makes them nuisances because they can disrupt the water flow in an area, flood areas that are not meant to be flooded and will cause damage to existing dams. They also carry potentially dangerous diseases such as rabies and parasites that can cause blindness and liver failure that they can pass to you and your pets through water and bites. This is not a typical occurrence, but it does happen from time to time. These animals also fell trees for materials to build their dam and to for food which can make your property ugly and cost you money. If you have beaver problems, here are some do it yourself tips to help you get rid of them.
- 1 - Use a live trap. Beavers are large, so only a couple of traps, like the clamshell trap, will work.
- 2 - Set a lethal trap. Such as a large connibear style body grip trap. These are not for amateurs!
- 3 - Install a drain pipe at the dam. This will make the dam fail, and discourage the beaver from using the area.
There are many repellents that claim to repel beavers, but most pest removal experts say that they don’t work as well as they say they do. Some of these repellents include predator urine scents like coyotes, fox or snake or there are scent aversion repellents like ammonia, mothballs, garlic, etc. These repellents will have to be reapplied constantly and are not guaranteed to work. This is definitely not a good option for someone who lives in an area that receives a lot of moisture or rain.
There are beaver traps available, but it is not recommended that you use them unless you know what you are doing. Beavers are very smart and are not easily trapped even with the specialty trap. These traps are designed specifically to safely trap the beavers and need to be set up and triggered in a special way so that the beaver doesn’t outsmart you and have you just wasting your money.
However, you must check with your local wildlife agencies to ensure that you are within your rights to get rid of the beavers in your area. In many places, beavers are endangered and you may not even be able to relocate them or get rid of them at all. Not only are they endangered, but they are integral parts of the ecosystem and do really good things for the environment whether they pester you or not. Most likely, you will have to employ the help of a wildlife removal professional to deal with the problem.
Go back to the main Beaver Removal page for more information about how to get rid of beavers.
How to Get Rid of Beavers in a Pond
The main concern with beavers is that they alter the landscape in such a way as to promote flooding and erosion. If you have a private pond on your property, a beaver lodge may not be something you want to see. Not only will beavers dam up streams and flood basins, they will eat a large number of aquatic life forms within the pond. For those property owners with stocked ponds, beavers can be a real nuisance. To get rid of beavers select the type of trapping method you wish to use. Beavers can be caught in cage traps and relocated, but the placement of cage traps can be an issue. Lethal, body gripping traps may be more practical and can be set along areas where the beaver frequents. The best lure for a beaver is the scent from another beaver. By using this oil you can trap beavers from a single colony in a short amount of time.
How to Get Rid of Beavers in a Stream
Beavers that block up a stream are creating a new ecosystem but they are also potentially flooding an undesirable area. Beavers do a lot of good in nature, but humans do not like the tree damage and landscape changes that ensue. To get rid of beavers in a stream you will need to have a basic idea of how many beavers you are dealing with. These animals can be solitary but often live in family groups. Set your traps, lethal or nonlethal, along known routes of travel. Beavers will have worn pathways in and out of the water. Use these frequently travelled areas to set the traps. The best lure for the beaver is the oils from a beaver of the same family. These large rodents identify one another by smell. Using beaver oil as bait is a sure way to attract more beavers. Once you have caught and removed all the beavers within the stream you can destroy the dam and revitalize the area.
How to Get Rid of Beavers in a Lake
Beavers in a lake are not a huge nuisance if the body of water is large enough to support them. Lakes often have innumerable fish and ample space but sometimes beavers can create issues if they dam up an area of water overflow. Getting rid of beavers on a lake can be difficult depending on where the lodge is located. If the water is shallow enough the lodge may be a good distance away from shore. The beavers will eventually return to dry land to harvest more trees and this is when cage trapping will be effective. For lodges out into the water a ways, lethal, body gripping traps are very effective. These traps can be set in the water. Beaver traps must be checked regularly to make sure no animals are caught and suffering. Some states require special licenses to trap beavers. Make sure you follow all laws and regulations regarding this furbearing species.
How to Get Rid of Beavers in a River
Beavers in a river pose a danger to motor boats. They can also flood areas close to homes and alter the natural flow of the water. The interesting thing about beavers on a river is that most rivers are owned by the state even if they pass through private property. As a homeowner you may not legally be able to get rid of beavers on a river. Beavers in a river will also be difficult to trap due to the fast currents and potential hazards out in the water. If the beaver lodge is located just off shore, live and lethal traps can be set along established beaver pathways. Once you have successfully captured a beaver in a lethal trap, you can use the oils from the beaver to lure in others. Scent identification is a big part of communicating within the beaver collective and the smell of one beaver will draw in others.
Even though beavers are beloved folk animals they can also be pests. Beavers are one of the most beloved creatures of North America as they have premiered in many children’s literature stories, cartoons and mythologies as well as supplied humans with the knowledge of how to build effective dams and have sacrificed their furs to clothe us. Beavers are the largest semi-aquatic rodent and can weigh more than 60 pounds and grow several feet long when they are full grown. They have water-resistant coats, large buck teeth and a large scaly tail that they use to build their dams and to swim. Beavers are also known for building superb dams that can stop the water flow create entirely new ecosystems. These dams will house several beavers in one that can only be accessed by underwater entranced.
What Kind of Damage Can Beavers Cause?
About Beaver: Appearance, Biology, Life Cycle, Habitat, Diet, Behavior
Humane Ways to Get Rid of Beavers
