I used to run a lot of video on beaver locations and I noticed that herons would always walk around protruding sticks. After seeing a few herons get a little too close for comfort on those sandy bottom dam break locations, I had an idea to put a stick angling over the foothold so it was about 2 feet above the trap and the end was plumb with the far side of the trap. I am probably not the first person to have the idea, but I now have enough video of herons walking around those sticks to say that it works like a charm. It keeps them well away since they dont even seem to like to get within a foot or so of the stick end.
Beavers will often swim to it and rear up to inspect the stick, and several times they have plopped down and were caught by a front foot. Occasionally one will try to pull the stick or chew it off and be caught in the process. Then others will work the dam break under the stick like normal. But of course, some of the spooky ones wont come closer than ten feet. Those are the tough ones but I almost always find another way on those before they skip town in search of safer waters…
Had a monitored location send a photo earlier and it gave me the idea to share in case anyone else finds this useful. Note the two angled sticks, one just behind the heron. This heron has been walking all over in front of the dam (off and on) for two days, everywhere except under those sticks, and I took the first of what I expect will be a pair of beavers today.

They will sometimes do this - land on the stick. So I always make sure it is stout enough and shoved in the mud far enough to hold a heron up. Note in this picture all the swirling water - those are carp that roil when the heron flys over them.

Nice observations, thanks for sharing.

i wounder what the odds are of catching a heron In a beaver set. I have trapped beaver for over 60 years and have yet to catch any kind of bird . But then Murphy's law comes Into effect.

I've never caught one either

You've nevah caught a duck ? What a slackah !

Fun to release too !

I caught a snapping turtle in a 330 once, if that counts for anything. It's real interesting getting them out of the trap.

I only have a few locations, mostly sandy bottoms in front of beaver dams where minnows congregate, that herons frequent. I dont want it to happen. No idea what the odds are, and Im not going to discuss non targets here. Those who have herons around can make their own assessment and act accordingly.

Caught common mergansers couple of times in 330's for beaver. Never caught a heron - rare bird here - but caught a bittern (same type of bird) on a muskrat float one time. Even got a rabbit on a 'rat float one time; it was trying to jump a narrow bit of water where the float was and landed on the float, half way across the water in a touch and go attempt, appears to be what happened.

I have a lot of herons around here. Have caught two. I do not like them. Be cautious when releasing because they go for your eyes.

Lets not get this thread axed. Its good info to get out there, because this simple method will keep you from catching herons if there is any chance of it at a location. If you need the info you know, if you dont just let it go hopefully just move on to the next topic.

I caught a heron in a rat trap once. I threw my coat over him to release. Before that when checking traps, I would flush a heron (I assume the same one) at 100 yards as I approached the slough. After releasing it would let me approach to 5 or 6 feet and never fly, just walk away from me. I guess he appreciated getting turned loose.

I had a herron beak in a CDR at a dam break one time, guess a fish or what it thought was a fish was hovering above the pan and WHAM! lol