Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: HobbieTrapper]
#6674063
11/24/19 01:04 AM
11/24/19 01:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,694 Virginia
52Carl
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,694
Virginia
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I don’t know about their mama, but all mine had to do was give me that look. lol Great point, well said! After reading all of these posts, I was trying to put my thoughts together in such a way as to convey what you just posted, only with a bunch of unnecessarily wordy words, and complex, multifaceted nuances in an attempt to impress only myself. No need. You nailed it. A parent beaver knows and recognizes its family members as well as they recognize themselves, most likely by smell. No need to bite them (unless they acted like I did when I didn't listen to my mom).
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674086
11/24/19 05:07 AM
11/24/19 05:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,047 Iowa
mink99
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,047
Iowa
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I've always been told that mama beaver drives off the two year olds when she's fixing to have another litter. I've often wondered how they do that. Most of the two year olds I catch don't have a mark on them. The ones that are cut up, I figure had to pass through an existing beaver's domain and the residents didn't think to kindly of the intruders. Now if mama doesn't attack them, how does she drive them off?
I'm wondering if the two year olds have an instinctual need to leave at a certain time in their life, kinda like the ducks and geese know when to head south or north. Or like how salmon know where to go to spawn.
What do y'all think? One thing I have found interesting is that a few times here and there I don’t think the two year olds get driven off. I have cleaned out colonies where there were three or more huge beaver living together.
ITA, NTA, FTA
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674090
11/24/19 06:05 AM
11/24/19 06:05 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009 Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009
Wisconsin
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^^^ I have noticed the same thing once in a while. I thought maybe some of them were living nearby in bank dens, but sometimes there was no spot for a bank den and there was only one beaver house present.
Steve WTA NRA
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674166
11/24/19 09:14 AM
11/24/19 09:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,082 SEPA
Lugnut
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,082
SEPA
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This is a very interesting and educational thread.
Eh...wot?
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: mink99]
#6674261
11/24/19 11:21 AM
11/24/19 11:21 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 199 NH
thebeaverguy
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 199
NH
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I've always been told that mama beaver drives off the two year olds when she's fixing to have another litter. I've often wondered how they do that. Most of the two year olds I catch don't have a mark on them. The ones that are cut up, I figure had to pass through an existing beaver's domain and the residents didn't think to kindly of the intruders. Now if mama doesn't attack them, how does she drive them off?
I'm wondering if the two year olds have an instinctual need to leave at a certain time in their life, kinda like the ducks and geese know when to head south or north. Or like how salmon know where to go to spawn.
What do y'all think? One thing I have found interesting is that a few times here and there I don’t think the two year olds get driven off. I have cleaned out colonies where there were three or more huge beaver living together. I remember a colony where I caught 6 beavers and only one was a kit (about 15 lbs.) the others were all 35 lbs. or better. It was a pond on a small brook and had a single lodge. I don't remember any bank dens either. As far as dispersal of young, I've caught kits in mink sets in places that had no sign anywhere nearby. Did they have wanderlust or were they just lost?
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674318
11/24/19 12:22 PM
11/24/19 12:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 126 West Central Iowa
4 Fur
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 126
West Central Iowa
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Most of the two year olds I catch don't have a mark on them. The ones that are cut up, I figure had to pass through an existing beaver's domain and the residents didn't think to kindly of the intruders. Now if mama doesn't attack them, how does she drive them off?
What do y'all think?
I am still going with the 2 year olds getting driven from the colony before the female gives birth but agree dispersal instinct could be a secondary factor. I don't think beaver often fight with their teeth. Has anyone ever caught a live beaver that would bite a stick? Or you? Caged and Hancock beaver I catch are usually very docile but an occasional adult will hiss and head butt the wire from the side I approach from. Never had one show their teeth. I think this aggressive behavior that Rally and 330 Trapper mentioned is all it takes for a 2 yr. old to feel unwelcome and leave the colony. Sure I've caught spring travelers that were severely damaged and I assume they were bitten up. But could it be sharp toe nails rather than bites? How many old scars on pelts are from close call escape damage from coyote, bobcat, birds of prey or even mechanical damage like submerge barbed wire, discarded broken cattle panels, etc.?
Life Member NTA, FHA and Iowa Trappers Association
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674358
11/24/19 01:26 PM
11/24/19 01:26 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404 Northeast Oklahoma
Mike in A-town
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
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I'm thinking they're typical teenagers... They don't wanna babysit their younger siblings for free... And mama says if you don't like it you know where the door is.
Mike
One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.
Vladimir Lenin
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674708
11/24/19 09:11 PM
11/24/19 09:11 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 828 Hill City,Mn.
Rally
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 828
Hill City,Mn.
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4Fur, I can't tell you how many beaver I've skun, that had perfect chop marks in them, from beaver bites. I,ve also seen live beaver that drug one of my snare poles up on the ice, send wolves away bleeding. Usually the other way around, but if the beaver can get there back into the hole that hasn't frozen yet, they are all business and not an easy meal.
Keep your boots dry
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674785
11/24/19 10:44 PM
11/24/19 10:44 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,519 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,519
james bay frontierOnt.
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Corner a beaver on land in the springtime and you will soon find out how aggressive they are-and fast.And yes,they can jump.
Last edited by Boco; 11/24/19 10:44 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Question for the experienced beaver folks
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#6674804
11/24/19 11:08 PM
11/24/19 11:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,226 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,226
Alaska and Washington State
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I have caught adults, two year olds, and yoy in isolated sub-alpine colonies where there wasn't really the possibility of the two year olds just wandering back and getting caught during the same season as the adults and yoy being caught. Maybe they were just driven off to a far corner of the colony.
"My life is better than your vacation"
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