Posted By: GrouseMan1
How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/22/21 02:30 PM
I’m trapping a large property with a big beaver pond with a lodge in it on the upstream side of the property and a stream running down stream. Along the stream theres several small dams but towards the end of the property, there’s a larger dam with many many fresh chews. This is about 500-600 yards downstream from their main lodge. There is no lodge on this side. I made a dam break set on this dam a couple days ago and since then, the water has dropped considerably and no beaver have come to make repairs. My question is, how often to beaver make dam checks for the dams outside of their main living quarters?
Posted By: SNIPERBBB
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/22/21 02:45 PM
Sometimes if they feel pressured they go turtle for a bit.
Posted By: The Beav
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/22/21 06:32 PM
It all depends on how much the break lowers the water level. A small break may not have much effect on the colony especially If there Is water still flowing into the pond.
Posted By: Saskfly
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/22/21 06:59 PM
If its not affecting the lodge they might not fix it.
Posted By: Swamp Wolf
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/23/21 03:08 AM
If its not affecting the lodge they might not fix it.
This^^^
Make a dam break set at the dam holding water at the lodge....attention getter.
Use 2 traps. Or make 2 breaks with single traps. They wont let that water leave.
Posted By: traprjohn
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/23/21 03:29 AM
Or 3 breaks with 3 footholds.
I had a 75 pounder hold off fixing a dam break for 17 days a few yrs ago.
She was the last of 7 taken at that site.
Posted By: GrouseMan1
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/26/21 03:46 PM
Seems like you all are right. All my sets in the lower impoundments have been untouched for the last week. Except for one caster mound set closer to the main lake they’re living in. Had a beaver caught by the toe but it twisted out.
I can’t get access to the main lake (property owners don’t want me there) but I do have access now to the upstream portion. On the upstream side of the lake, there is a few impoundments very close to the main lake. I’m checking that out for the first time tomorrow. Hoping there’s more activity and better luck up there.
Posted By: Willy Firewood
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/27/21 04:21 PM
Regarding the beaver that escaped:
Set the trap shallow trying for a front foot catch. If you miss then may catch the rear.
Bed the trap securely so the trap cannot slide, wiggle, be bumped aside, or move at all. Then bed the trap a little better.
Bed the trap.
Posted By: Boco
Re: How long before beaver check dam break? - 01/27/21 04:32 PM
The amount of activity in that regard depends a lot on the time of year.In the fall the beaver are very active mudding the house and raising the dam.
A dam break at this time of year (fall) will get immediate attention.
In the dry of summer the dam will get attention after a rainfall.
During the spring freshet water will often be running over the dam its continuous length and beaver ignore it.If a chunk of dam washes out they will start to repair it after the spring run off subsides enough for them to plug the breach.
In winter,under ice they wont repair a dam.