Winter Beaver

Yesterday I was out grouse hunting ans wanted to check on a beaver pond as well. Found a big lodge and I think its active. Fresh cut trees on the shoreline. Any other things to look for to know for sure? I had my daughter with me on my back so i didnt want to investigate too much more. Around the lodge there was one spot that looked like it was open to the water but there was ice over it. No snow over this spot. Would that signify a run going in/out of the lodge?

They were there this fall

Look for frost cone on top house.

Be very careful around the house. It’s the beavers revenge

An active lodge usually has frost around a breathing hole. Fresh cut trees from before freeze up is a good sign too. Is there a feed bed? Use your chisel and check for runs around the lodge. If you can punch your chisel through the ice there's a good chance you an find an active run.

put some fresh poplar bait in . See if it is worked.

Dead houses will have frost around the old breathing hole.
When it is freezing cold and the snow is dry shove your hand down into the snow on top of the house-if you can pack a snowball the house is producing heat.A definitive sign of an active house.On large houses in cold climates,a chimney will form on the top of the house from the steam coming out.Sometimes if there are a lot of beaver in the house you can see the steam.
Also check the feedbed.Old dead houses can have old dead feed in the ice.
Take some of the branches from the feedbed that are sticking up above the ice and break them to see if they are green-If they are green than the feed is fresh,another sign of an active house.
Most times you can tell an active house from a dead one by the shape.Live houses tend to be a lot more pointed on top,Old dead houses are flat looking because the chamber inside has collapsed.
Open water,thin ice, or a groove in the snow can indicate an entrance run.

Would the small opening in the ice be a definitive sign of an active house as well? Or is just that piece of info not enough to determine?

That is a good sign,also peeled sticks in the water when you open a hole.