Hey folks. was out looking for deer hunting/bear snaring the other day and found a man made beaver pond looks like in the woods from back in the day. 100' long so, 30' wide.

Big draught here, water is gone from most spots, creeks dried up etc.

Water in pond held small catfish was dead and washed up (only one seen). water was low probably 3-6' max. Water was down probably that much anyways. Green gross looking water. TONS of frogs, more than i've ever seen at any pond, and big ones too.

I plan on eating most of the beaver I catch. Should I stay away from this one where water isn't running through pond? or should I just use it for bait?

Wondering if what killed the fish would be bad for the beaver meat. Thinking lack of oxygen in the green water killed the fish.

Beavers will leave an area if there isn’t enough water. Muskrats will too. Lots of frogs will pull in mink, coon, traveling otters and predators.

Beaver can be an acquired taste. Ketchup and bay leaves help! Corn fed beaver tastes much different than tree bark beavers.

If beavers are handled properly and prepared properly, they are great table fare. If any castor or oil from the oil sacs get on the meat, it's some nasty meat that I could never acquire a taste for. The beavers I cook are very similar to beef in taste.

I found some beavers eating pine and prepared them in a stew. I could not tell any difference in taste between them and the sweet gum eating beavers I prepared. I never tried corn fed beavers, but I don't know how they could be any better than others that are eating tree bark. They are delicious.

As long as it's not downstream from a chemical plant or an old retention pond for a drilling or mining operation I don't see why not. Frogs are usually the first to go if there's any kind of pollution I believe. Fish probably didn't have any oxygen and died.

We love Beaver. Wife cooks it much like beef roast with potatoes, carrots, and gravy. I agree with Paul that you have to be very careful and make sure no castor gets on the meat.

Good luck and have fun!

Moosetrot

I think beaver is similar to roast beef in texture and taste but better.

yes, beaver is great table fare, I have made brats, polish sausage, Italian Sauage, slim-jim, and more all very good,

As long as they aren't eating on pine trees, you're good for eating them.

Just like beef corn fed is better than grass fed, remember I’m an Iowa corn farmer.

I don't know about Nova Scotia. But Utah has some waters with toxic algae blooms:

Toxic algae blooms, which are colonies of harmful cyanobacteria, are occurring in various Utah water bodies, including parts of Utah Lake and reservoirs like Baker Reservoir, and are a threat to human and animal health. You should avoid contact with or consumption of algae and water in these areas, as toxins can cause symptoms like headaches, abdominal pain, and skin irritation. Always check the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website for the latest monitoring updates and safety advisories before visiting any Utah water body.
What to do if a bloom is present
Do not swim or water ski: in areas with algae.
Keep pets away: from affected areas, as they are particularly vulnerable.
Avoid boating: through areas of algae.
Clean fish thoroughly: and discard the guts.
Do not drink the water .
Avoid contact with algae mats, as they can be dangerous.
How to recognize a bloom
Surface scum .
Thick, green water, often appearing brighter or soupier than usual.
Blue-green algae .
A blue-green residue: along shorelines.

If this is what's going on in that pond you should be very careful how you handle anything form it.

I've eaten pine eating beavers, and there was no difference in taste from the sweet gum eating beavers.. I was surprised, because I expected there to be a difference in taste.

The water is a thick green. I know the algae blooms here kill dogs and stuff that drink it but if beaver lives in it, would it taint the meat?

Above says "Clean fish thoroughly: and discard the guts." so I guess the flesh of beaver would also be edible as long as you clean it carefully before cooking it.