Looking back beaver in coon set with fish bait

I'm sitting around thinking and back when I was just learning probably my 2nd or third year trapping I made a set on a river for coon but the next morning I had a beaver toe nail in that Duke 1.5. I didn't know what it was at that time having never been close to a beaver before. I'm glad all I got was its toe nail otherwise my trap would have been gone. I only had maybe 2doz traps back then. I was in my early 20s working construction with young family.

I'm guessing the disturbed dirt was enough fro the beaver to check out. I had never heard of caster back then.

Seems like a lot of animals are attracted to fresh dirt not just predators.

Odd how your mind wonders on a rainy day when you can't do much outside.

It is also a good reminder to always anchor every set like you are going to catch an elephant.

When my son was 12 he set a no. 1 jump in rat run. Got off the bus to check traps. He ran home yelling I got a beaver. Naturally I knew it was a big rat. Went down to the creek and there sat a 40 lb. Beav caught by the front foot and apparently just sat down.

I end up with a few beaver in coon sets every year. Like 160 said, always stake solid.

Beaver,like rats are attracted to sweet smells.

I caught, and held, a beaver a couple years ago in a pvc pipe set for coons. It's was a small guy though, no more than 30 lbs

Caught a ton of beaver and rats in fish baited pocket sets for coon.
Always had to stake for an elephant in case of beaver.
Also every year I catch a lot of coyotes on carp.
Jim