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Nuisance Beaver - Opinions
Posted By: slydogx
Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 05:58 PM
Hi all,
Looking for honest opinions from folks knowledgeable about the business of trapping nuisance beaver. 99% of my calls are in rural areas on large drainages with little human activity around the water... basically trapping glorified ditches in between corn fields LOL.
Today I got a request to trap a creek behind a subdivision of Mc Mansions in the swanky part of town. All of the homes in the crescent back on to the creek and the properties are not fenced. There are also plenty of yuppies on kayaks and paddle boards in the area.
Would you: avoid the job altogether, run footholds on rebar drowners or find an inconspicuous way to set a 330? I am leery of footholds (even though that is my preferred option) because if I have a live one that doesn't go down the rod I can't fire a gun there to dispatch (bylaw)
I don't want to disappoint the client but I also don't want to expose myself (and the activity of trapping) to undue risk of negative publicity... what would you do?
Posted By: GRP
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:01 PM
I would pass. That's just me.
Posted By: cmcf
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:05 PM
Would a .22 cal. Air rifle be legal?
Posted By: warrior
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:06 PM
Fortunately I have Georgia backing me up. It shall be unlawful to fail to carry a .22 and dispatch trapped wildlife. Bylaws be dammed. But now that said I fully understand the predicament and try every possible way to avoid testing that one in court. To the point of alternate methods of dispatch as that rule could also be interpreted to mean only legal means as well.
First my go to would be footholds and other than chain drowners I've never had one at the top of my fiberglass rods. Next would be 330s and cages.
Posted By: SNIPERBBB
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:07 PM
Cages could be an option. Charge enough in case they grow legs of hdy damaged.
Posted By: Calvin
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:25 PM
I trap suburbia and know your issues. Whatever you choose, it could turn into a real headache unless everyone on that waterway doesn't want the beaver there (highly unlikely). Or you can check and remove critters without notice (because someone IS going to complain).
You are smart to think about the possibility of a beaver splashing around with 15 people standing next to it. Then what? Going to thunk it over the head while people are live streaming you? For this reason, I'd personally stay away from footholds AND magnum bodygrips. We've all caught beaver in magnums by the tail alive and frisky when we get there.
Personally, I'd only use submerged non magnum #330s or those same traps tucked away in the cattails (away from shore) on a floats if you have cattails. Floats can be a valuable asset in areas of high people/pet presence. Anything on the shore could be a potential dog issue if those people are anything like the people around here. Shore is a No Go for me around people.
Either way, it's going to be a headache and as we know getting every beaver with #330s isn't always doeable. Nothing wrong with telling the customer that under the circumstances you're not comfortable until later in the season when all the humans and their pets leave the water. And if you do take it, let him know there's a good chance he's going to be getting calls from POed people who want to save the beaver. Just some food for though.
Posted By: GARY M.
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:42 PM
Run footholds on drowners, set at daylight, and check at daylight, before people get out.
Posted By: trap-alaska
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 06:51 PM
Set on Monday and pull before the weekend so fewer people are recreating on the water.
Posted By: Rat Masterson
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 09:35 PM
Hard pass.
Posted By: MChewk
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 09:43 PM
Get job in writing, have Homeowners Association on board and have them post signs on property. If not up to your standards ....walk
Posted By: backroadsarcher
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 10:01 PM
I would really look it over good. I would probably pass on the foot holds. If I can get a beaver under water to swim through a 330 that would be my choice of trapping. Set early and check early before most are awake. Plan your entrance and exit for smaller chance of human interaction.
Posted By: Fisher Man
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 10:05 PM
I agree with the above. Get written permission. Have large liability insurance, and if you don't want people messing with you, don't take the job.
Posted By: Swamp Wolf
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 10:13 PM
A dog in a foothold...at the end of the rod will not be good.
Go with cages ONLY.
Not site about your Canadian civil courts, but here you can be sued for about anything.
I recently passed on a job very similar to your offer....except 5 lakes...no stream. HOA says all was ready to go...no problems. After I looked at area.....NO WAY!
Posted By: slydogx
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/10/21 11:06 PM
Thanks all. I'll probably go do a site survey this weekend and then decide based on setting options.
Posted By: Aix sponsa
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 01:09 AM
If they’re willing to pay what something like that is worth, there’s a good paycheck that’ll go along with it.
From what you’ve mentioned, I wouldn’t even put 330s into the truck. I’d probably leave the footholds at home too. Sounds like a cage trap job, and a price that will reflect everything that goes into such a job.
Good luck
Posted By: Boco
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 01:20 AM
What kind of damage are you dealing with that the beaver have to be removed?
Posted By: slydogx
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 01:44 AM
I am not sure on the damage yet, but I assume they are chewing down very expensive landscaping trees. Will know more after a site visit.
Posted By: Saskfly
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 02:16 PM
Not sure what town or township your dealing with but one of our local hero's screwed up a job like your describing and the town passed a by-law only allowing live trapping. That's a little unfair to the guy because we all know dealing with animals that you cannot guarantee anything but we all wish he would have passed on the job. Every township surrounding this town also reviewed there ADC practices, thankfully no other by-laws where passed. The picture/video was of a beaver in a foothold, along a side of a trail, that did not make it down the drowner cable.
Whatever you do think of a bad catch and the video on Facebook and the picture in the local paper.
I have talked clients into waiting for winter. More room for error when your under the ice and less people out usually. I would use a cage but they are pricey for only one job if you mostly trap farms.
Posted By: MChewk
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 03:03 PM
Sask that is unfortunate that the incident changed laws for everybody.
I’ve had HOA actually purchase specialized items for me in the past. Doesn’t happen a lot but if they are serious it might be worth asking.
Posted By: slydogx
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 04:48 PM
So, I had a chat with the folks in charge of the watershed and we agreed that we would approach this cautiously and strategically... I'm going to visit site and do some investigating and we may be able to approach this from an area that is less accessible to the general public.
I really appreciate all of the input here.
Posted By: KeithC
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 04:58 PM
I would put up warning signs by every trap you set there because people are nosy and likely to poke around.
Keith
Posted By: trapper les
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 05:09 PM
I would just take my time and make cable or chain drowner sets, with weights, and hide them nicely, or make them inaccessable to passers by. Dont advertise.
Posted By: walleye101
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 05:17 PM
I would be as open and up-front as possible. You were requested to come take care of their problem. Have the one requesting the work do the leg work of notifying all the home owners what is being done and why.
Posted By: KeithC
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 06:38 PM
I would just take my time and make cable or chain drowner sets, with weights, and hide them nicely, or make them inaccessable to passers by. Dont advertise.
The problem is that the people living in the McMansions will see him messing around at the waters edge, right behind their homes, that don't have fences and poke around to see what's going on. There's no way to completely hide what he is doing. Dogs or children entering the water could be an issue too. Warning signs by the traps and having the whole community notified of what's going on will hopefully avoid any issues.
Keith
Posted By: LAtrapper
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 08:46 PM
Jim Comstock makes some excellent beaver cage traps. They aren't cheap, however they are very effective. I only bought one, but it worked very well. He does ship to Canada; I have no idea about customs or other factors resulting from the covid-19 pandemic. His web site is-
https://comstockcustomcage.com/. This is the one I purchased-
https://comstockcustomcage.com/shop/beaverotter/cb39dd/. There are several other makers of beaver cage traps that I have no experience with.
Video of using Kirk Dekalb trap for beaver-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0eLi30kbY8
Posted By: charles
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/11/21 10:26 PM
Will you be working for an HOA? That could simplify things.
Posted By: aprophet
Re: Nuisance Beaver - Opinions - 06/12/21 12:45 AM
Is it deep enough for snares and drowners?