For those of you who trap beaver in the wolf range of MN. What are you seeing as far as beaver populations over the years? I'm hearing that the wolves are gobbling them up since running out of deer. I "heard" of one fella that says he used to have to work hard to keep the beaver under control in his area but now the beaver are about gone there. Of course, the recent interest in beaver fur could have contributed to this to "some" degree...maybe?

I did walk some areas up there this past fall where beaver ponds that had beaver in them for decades were now dry and void of any beaver activity.

What are you guys seeing?

I don't know about Minnesota, but in SE Alaska the wolves are very hard on the beaver, especially in declining habitat where the beaver have to get away from the waters edge in order to cut feed.

I will say that the wolves seem to have developed a taste for Turkey around my place this winter.

I’m pretty sure they did a number on them last year. In SE Mb.

Skilled Beaver trappers took far more Beaver than wolves in a much shorter period of time !

The beaver population should improve when they start releasing elk in the northeastern areas of MN. Elk should be easier for wolves to catch.

The Beaver in the Bemidji Area are down but it is a combination of factors. They've been trapped pretty hard the last couple years, spring and fall. Water levels are down and many isolated ponds have dried up. Those beaver are very vulnerable to wolves when they vacate dry ponds. And wolf numbers are high so normal predation is taking a toll as well. We'll see how much of a push we get here once things get moving this spring but right now the snow melt is pretty much gone and will need some percipitation to get some water, and young beaver, moving.

I think this "used to be" the case. I'm wondering if this still holds true today from what guys are actually seeing . Especially in the thick of wolf country where there are far more hungry wolves than hungry trappers today. Do 4,000 (or whatever we believe the numbers are) wolves (who hunt daily) take more beaver than a handful of aging trappers do, who trap when they feel like it?
Most beaver trappers are aging and slowing down, let alone there's not much financial incentive to it anymore. Especially if they cant drive up to the site. Wolves on the other hand, are low on availability of food supplies nowadays. It "seems" like the wolves have figured out how to hunt and kill beaver more effectively nowadays out of pure necessity to survive.

Just wondering what guys are really seeing out there. I know of one (north of Grand Marais) beaver trapper that seeing a big shift since the deer populations have tanked.

That Elk releasing might be an interesting one to watch Trapper7. I wonder how many are going to come down with a (reported) mysterious illness when they get gobbled up.

Thats not a bad thing

I find it hard to believe that wolves eat any more beaver now than ever? I would think it's 100% based on case by case opportunity.

I agree. That said, I think they will eat more beaver when the deer are rock bottom levels like many areas in the “true northern” areas of the state. I think the idea of wolves eating beavers has just been made “public knowledge” with the wolf study in voyageurs. It’s been going on as long as we’ve had beaver and wolves but like many things varies. They’re smart and opportunistic, go figure!?! I think I have single handedly helped maximize wolf litter survival the years I’ve caught a good number of beaver and put the carcasses out for them! lol. Happy trapping! ScottW

I my area I don't think the wolves are hard on them. The last 3 years with the market up on them everyone and there brother were trapping them. I run into more trappers the last few years than the prior years.