I got an interesting call this week. A local farmer has a problem with Beaver clogging up his creek and flooding the field. He removes the dam activity and they're back at it the next day. I'll be heading out this weekend to make some sets. I asked him if he's losing a lot of trees. He said "no, they're using corn stalks and grass to keep a dam." This should be interesting. I can't recall ever hearing of beavers taking down corn stalks.

Man them rascals can destroy a corn crop! looks like a crude silage field afterwards

Yea, a double whammy...It floods his field and they are taking his corn. The guy said he can't wait for me to get there.

there was a guy on facebook posting a video of a beaver doing just that, pretty interesting!

I've seen it down here in Mississippi where ditches cut through corn fields and wood isn't available. Post some pics when u get there

if you eliminate his problem you will have a friend for ever! those corn fed beavs get huge too! ive cleaned out a few corn fed beavers from irrigation lakes. Beavers make a good stepping stone to gain access to other fur as well! If the beaver have gotten out of hand usually a good rat population as well. And otts and mink they all tend to go hand in hand

Since we irrigate everything here ( mostly gated pipe ) beaver will divert the row water and push out a pond 1-2 acres 2' deep with a corn stalk lodge dead center.
the other issue in western Colorado we might leave corn until after the first of the year, have beavers push out a pond in the middle of the field let it fill with seep water.

Corn field beaver account for probably 30% of my work. 50-75 a year. mostly old males.

tom do you have to use cages to catch beavers! If so that would be a severe handi cap to me!

Hancocks and cages yes for the most part. We shoot most of them in the corn though.

You guys have me excited. I'm headed out this weekend to get going on this. I haven't been to the property yet, but based on the aerial photos, it looks like a trappers mecca. The guy has a large stream going thru his property, PLUS 3 feeder streams leading to the main stream. Plus a pond and wetland. He thinks there's muskrats too. He made me the exclusive trapper. Now, time to scout it out, set up, and prove myself. I'm thinking I should set really heavy right away...try to get as many as possible right away. This job is for a friend of a friend, and isn't sounding overly lucrative, but I think it could lead to big and better things. Gotta go get ready. Corn fed beavers...hmmm...this really has me intrigued.

Way cool. Following for sure!

I wonder if a farmer can claim beaver danage to corn like they can deer damage...hmmm.

I'm going to bring BG's, snares, and footholds...will devise a plan once I arrive. I think I'll focus on 1 feeder stream today. 1 in particular is giving him the most grief. I probably better set a lot of traps. I don't want to get an otter though, not until >November. I don't know how deep the water is yet.

Do otter or muskrats eat corn too?

Very little is 100% when it comes to wildlife but, being rodents, I bet rats would go after corn but otters, being basically fish eating predators, would probably ignore it.

It was amazing. The culvert was mostly plugged, so the water backed up into the field for a ways.
At the very left side of the picture, you'll see the right edge of a ~25' long berm the beavers have constructed to keep the water in the corn field.
The water in most of the creek was VERY deep. 3 times today I saw a furbearer moving...either muskrat or beaver.
Corn stalks were way downstream.
Amazing really.

implement the dunier system at that culvert and clean those suckers out!

sounds like the dunier system is perfect for that whole project I avoid the dens till very last spooked beavers hole up costing you time

They've been doing it on our farm for over 15 yrs.
They go into the corn 20-50 yds THEN start chopping and dragging...so we end with a 1/4-1/2 acre UFO landing pad in the middle of 1 of our corn fields.

Corn stalk dams are not unusual around me. Trapped a bunch trying to stop up the drain pipe of a waterfowl impoundment with the corn planted in the impoundment a few weeks ago. They will also mow down soybeans as well even after they are dry.