Set up a jackpot the other day with an old beaver ribcage.
A cat found it.



Picked up this yolk too.

Well done Boco.

Is a "jackpot" a location where you've always caught a critter?

Jackpot is a big bait gang set with snares.

Nice!

Marten are one of my favorite critters.

What are Lynx expected to bring on auction?

I dont know,I have a strong private market for cats.Tanning cost has gone up a bit though.
I only ship any A-B bellies to auction and the odd big taxi skinned cat if there are going to be taxidermists at the auction..

Oh ok. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining.

Marten colours are so rich in snow. No matter what tone they sport.

Very Nice

Seen a nice dark cherry red fox yesterday-man no animal looks prettier than a dk red fox in the snow.

I thought of red fox too, along with marten . They both are stunning in winter.

Your a very good trapper.

Here is a better pic of that beaver house Sharon.

I agree, my favorite furbearer to see in the snow.

Oh I see it so much better now…man that’s a nice tall one. Looks like their food stash can be seen just in front a bit to the left, if I’m not mistaken.

It looks really large from that distance.

Thank you for the update , Boco , keep your stick on the ice !

Yes that is the feed bed in front.It goes all the way around both sides.

Wow, sounds like they worked hard to have it easy this winter.

I wonder how thick they fortified the walls on one that size. I bet nothing short of a griz or wolverine would be able to put a dent in it now, with snow and ice froze on top too.

From what I understand,beavers will keep piling sticks,grass and mud on their house and then make the inside hollow bigger.As they chew and dig out the inside,they pile stuff on the outside.The walls are a couple feet thick.No predator here can get into a frozen beaver house in winter,but bears and wolverines can dig into them in summer and fall.
Some years when winter is extremely long and the beaver run out of feed,the beaver will chew out of his house.They chew out the breathing hole which they leave mud free.

In years when beaver have to chew out of their houses in April,and venture out on the crust to cut feed, the wolves take advantage and will ambush the beaver.I as well as other trappers are familiar with the big red splotches on the crust near beaver houses in years when the beaver are forced to chew out.

it is interesting to observe.The beaver dont stay out longer than necessary to cut the feed,and they always cut the closest willow to the hole.Then they drag the feed to the house and eat inside.
often I have placed a trap over the chew out hole and caught the beaver.They are invariably in poor condition with their vertebrae sticking up on their backs,you can feel the bumps with the palm of your hand.

Trappers who trap beaver in winter always want to distinguish between a live house and a dead house before they start work.
A good give away is the shape of the house under the snow.Pointy houses are almost always live houses.older dead houses are more dome shaped because the hollow inside has collapsed.Then you can confirm by checking for heat coming out of the breathing hole on top.If you reach into the snow on top of the house and you can pack it into a ball,there is heat in the house.




Here is a bit of an oddity-4 live beaver houses in close proximity.

How much of this vast population of people on the earth have no idea of animal behavior, much less able to predict their actions to weather .

It is sad that so many loose out of such education in life, even afraid of going into wilderness, preferring instead to stay in the cities.

I didn’t know they carve out the inside walls and keep piling it on the outside. No wonder the lodge gets so big after a while . They not only build to suit, but also do additions ! It pays to gather enough food to last a long winter.

Neat info, Boco.

A great trip ! i liked the scenery . Thanks Boco

Thanks for sharing!