Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362648
Yesterday at 01:21 AM
Yesterday at 01:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,983 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,983
Alaska and Washington State
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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.
"My life is better than your vacation"
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362660
Yesterday at 04:20 AM
Yesterday at 04:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 184 Maine
Noel
trapper
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trapper
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Posts: 184
Maine
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362697
Yesterday at 07:04 AM
Yesterday at 07:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 21,015 MN
160user
trapper
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trapper
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Posts: 21,015
MN
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I will say that the wolves seem to have developed a taste for Turkey around my place this winter.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362707
Yesterday at 07:27 AM
Yesterday at 07:27 AM
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Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 3,515 Manitoba
Shakeyjake
trapper
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trapper
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Posts: 3,515
Manitoba
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I’m pretty sure they did a number on them last year. In SE Mb.
Wind Blew, crap flew, out came the line crew
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362713
Yesterday at 07:43 AM
Yesterday at 07:43 AM
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Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 668 Lake Mille Lacs , MN
2poor
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 668
Lake Mille Lacs , MN
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Skilled Beaver trappers took far more Beaver than wolves in a much shorter period of time !
It’s a lazy man who can’t find his wife a second job !
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362805
Yesterday at 10:24 AM
Yesterday at 10:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,267 MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Trapper7
trapper
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trapper
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Posts: 17,267
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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The beaver population should improve when they start releasing elk in the northeastern areas of MN. Elk should be easier for wolves to catch.
My doctor suggested I start doing squats, so I moved all the beer to the bottom shelf of my fridge.
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: Calvin]
#8362813
Yesterday at 10:43 AM
Yesterday at 10:43 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,638 MN
walleye101
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,638
MN
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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.
Last edited by walleye101; Yesterday at 10:44 AM.
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: 2poor]
#8362817
Yesterday at 10:46 AM
Yesterday at 10:46 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,027 South metro, MN
Calvin
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
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South metro, MN
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Skilled Beaver trappers took far more Beaver than wolves in a much shorter period of time !
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.
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: 160user]
#8362820
Yesterday at 10:50 AM
Yesterday at 10:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,299 USA MN
Snowpa
trapper
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trapper
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USA MN
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I will say that the wolves seem to have developed a taste for Turkey around my place this winter. Thats not a bad thing
Never Confuse Stupid With Crazy
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: The Finlander]
#8362897
Yesterday at 12:51 PM
Yesterday at 12:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,349 Barnum, MN
ScottW
trapper
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trapper
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Posts: 1,349
Barnum, MN
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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
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: ScottW]
#8362968
Yesterday at 03:03 PM
Yesterday at 03:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,638 MN
walleye101
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,638
MN
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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 Yes, you'd have thought they found the missing link when they "discovered" that wolves eat fish during spawning runs. Why wouldn't they?
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: AK Timber Tramp]
#8363130
Yesterday at 07:57 PM
Yesterday at 07:57 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,027 South metro, MN
Calvin
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,027
South metro, MN
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Wolves are adaptive, they find ways to survive on a new food source when traditional ones dry up. There was an interesting study done in SE on an island where the wolves have almost or completely eradicated the deer population, so the wolves started hunting sea otters. Not a one time opportunistic type of thing, but actually adjusted their diet and hunting methods to effectively eat sea otters Good info. This is a "suspicion" of what may be happening here, in some areas. My buddy has a trail cam in the midst of wolf territory here. Once with many deer, He hasn't seen a deer on his camera the entire last year. The beaver ponds in that specific area have dried up. It's also a gated Co-op community. The local beaver trapper stated he hasn't trapped any. Have the wolves become that effective?
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Re: Wolf Range, MN beaver trappers
[Re: trapdog1]
#8363139
Yesterday at 08:07 PM
Yesterday at 08:07 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,414 Minnesota
Woodsloafer72
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,414
Minnesota
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Just where is the wolf range in Mn, if I may ask. Pretty much the whole state.
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