Anyone have any tips on removing burrs from beaver? Any tips or just pick them out one at a time? I’ve caught a few this year and it’s a big pain.

Use a table fork to remove burrs.

Fur comb

You know after all these years you would think I would have a fur comb. That would be too easy. I’ve always just grabbed a brush laying around the house to brush the fur. But I’m trapping a new area where I’m seeing a lot of burrs. A regular brush isn’t cutting it. I like the fork idea. Maybe some of my wife’s conditioner and a fork.

I have a couple colonies I no longer trap due to burrs. These beavers let themselves get so infested that they embed into the skin, causing abscesses. Colonies are very isolated and I'm beginning to suspect inbreeding. Almost like they refuse or lack the ability to groom themselves.

White trash beaver. Lol

Spray the fur & underwool with WD-40
& they can be removed a lot easier.

Also gently pull the FUR out of the burr,
rather than pulling the BURR out of the fur.

I wouldn't use a comb or fork to remove burrs
as you will probably get at least some damage.

This makes no difference if the pelts are sold into
the hatter market but if your beaver are going to be
shipped to FHA and they are finely graded &
you do have some fur damage you are going to get
dinged & down graded if you damage the fur
or under wool pulling out burdocks.

JMHO

walleyed

Get a dog brush.

Yeah, they let the dog run loose and won't mow the lawn.

I was wondering about the abscesses that I’ve been seeing. That makes sense though.

I had two adults I trapped out of a lodge this year that had a bunch of those green pus filled cysts on the bellies. Some as small as a 1/4 inch to others as big as a quarter. Wasn’t sure what horrendous disease they had until I searched on here and found a picture that matched and mentioned it was from burdocks getting imbedded into the underfur. It was pretty disgusting to skin and the hide was full of holes. I had never seen that before.

We get a lot of abcesses from blackberry stickers as well. Right now with the market the way it is I wouldn't worry a bit about fur damage from cocklebur removal; unless you feel your market is the craft market.

Walleyed gave you good advice.

Rub some mineral oil into the fur in the tangled area down to the skin. Massage it in well. This will lubricate the Velcro kind of tenacles that get entangled in the fur.

Pull the hair apart a little from different directions around the burr. I use the large comb end of a hair comb also lubed a little, with the mineral oil, to gently pick the burr out. Comb through the matted area to clear any remaining tenacles once the main burr body has been removed.

Rub the area well with a rag or some borax to dry it before boarding or stretching on a hoop.

Well I got it cleaned up. Tried the WD-40. It helped. Ended up using the fork to help break them up a bit and a regular wire brush. Lots of brushing and picking. And lots of abscesses again.

That new to me WD-40. Had always used naphtha/white gas.

This is Miss Aalaiya my greatgrandaughter and new beaver trapper. Not one cocklebur will escape her trained eye.
I suggest you get a protege for getting rid ofthose annoying cockleburs.

This is the best advice yet.