I got a call from a Park Society group about some beaver activity and I am looking for some advice. My initial assessment of the situation leads me to believe the beavers have a house in a small inlet of a river about 100 yards up from the park. They are coming down to the park and have chewed and fallen several of the willow's planted by the park group. I have permission to trap one small section and have evidence of beavers coming onto shore in that area but a public walking path and heavy dog traffic near the shore line (within 25 feet) makes me nervous using any type of foot hold on a drowning system. A previous trapper (last spring) has already caught a dog which was released with no injury but has decided not to further his efforts to remedy the situation. There is currently no ice and even if there was I would be very hesitant of using it for access. I was thinking of using an underwater set using baited 330's or foot traps similar too an under the ice set off shore about 3-4 feet using peeled sticks or some other scent in the open water would be possible. Has anyone ever tried this in open water?

I appreciate any thoughts or ideas on the issue!

Thanks!

If snares in water are legal you would be wise to check some open water snare sets others have posted on this site

Thank You for the idea, but no snares in New York. I wish that would change. It would make my Coyote winter trapping much more productive also.

Based on your limitations -If you sandwich a peeled aspen stick in between the 330 jaws and submerse it or wire peeled twigs on the triggers it can be effective in open water. If I'm in dark water I prefer to use PVC.

Can you block off the small stream they are coming down with the 330s?

I was hoping someone had experience using baited 330 in open water. I will try it as far off shore as I can get. The water drops off very quickly out past 3-4 feet.

There is no way to block off the water way. My apologies if I made it sound like a stream, it is actually a section of a river probably 50-60 yards wide. There are lots of sticks floating down from above and I think they come down to this area for the fresh trees the Park plants each spring.

The best answer is to not trap in the park, especially if there is that much of a risk of pets/people. It sounds like this has been going on a long time, so the odds that catching one beaver will remedy the situation are slim. Gain access to the lodge or have the society do so, or else find areas far away or on the opposite side of the river from the trails. I would pass on that especially if it is not well-paying.

330 floats might be a decent option, but again around dogs and people it is just not worth it. Trap the beaver somewhere else.

That's a great idea! I think I can make this work. I will place 1-2 just far enough off shore at the upper end of the park where I think the beavers are coming from and far enough so people won't be able to mess with it but close enough I can check without putting on my waders every day. The dogs in the park are supposed to be leashed, but we all know how that works sometimes.

Yes a float would work. ..should work.

keep us posted floats work great for me but I've only used them in spring