Beavers vs Corn

I got an interesting call this week. A local farmer has a problem with Beaver clogging up his creek and flooding the field. He removes the dam activity and they're back at it the next day. I'll be heading out this weekend to make some sets. I asked him if he's losing a lot of trees. He said "no, they're using corn stalks and grass to keep a dam." This should be interesting. I can't recall ever hearing of beavers taking down corn stalks.

Man them rascals can destroy a corn crop! looks like a crude silage field afterwards

Yea, a double whammy...It floods his field and they are taking his corn. The guy said he can't wait for me to get there.

there was a guy on facebook posting a video of a beaver doing just that, pretty interesting!

I've seen it down here in Mississippi where ditches cut through corn fields and wood isn't available. Post some pics when u get there

if you eliminate his problem you will have a friend for ever! those corn fed beavs get huge too! ive cleaned out a few corn fed beavers from irrigation lakes. Beavers make a good stepping stone to gain access to other fur as well! If the beaver have gotten out of hand usually a good rat population as well. And otts and mink they all tend to go hand in hand

Since we irrigate everything here ( mostly gated pipe ) beaver will divert the row water and push out a pond 1-2 acres 2' deep with a corn stalk lodge dead center.
the other issue in western Colorado we might leave corn until after the first of the year, have beavers push out a pond in the middle of the field let it fill with seep water.

Corn field beaver account for probably 30% of my work. 50-75 a year. mostly old males.

tom do you have to use cages to catch beavers! If so that would be a severe handi cap to me!

Hancocks and cages yes for the most part. We shoot most of them in the corn though.

You guys have me excited. I'm headed out this weekend to get going on this. I haven't been to the property yet, but based on the aerial photos, it looks like a trappers mecca. The guy has a large stream going thru his property, PLUS 3 feeder streams leading to the main stream. Plus a pond and wetland. He thinks there's muskrats too. He made me the exclusive trapper. Now, time to scout it out, set up, and prove myself. I'm thinking I should set really heavy right away...try to get as many as possible right away. This job is for a friend of a friend, and isn't sounding overly lucrative, but I think it could lead to big and better things. Gotta go get ready. Corn fed beavers...hmmm...this really has me intrigued.

Way cool. Following for sure!

I wonder if a farmer can claim beaver danage to corn like they can deer damage...hmmm.

I'm going to bring BG's, snares, and footholds...will devise a plan once I arrive. I think I'll focus on 1 feeder stream today. 1 in particular is giving him the most grief. I probably better set a lot of traps. I don't want to get an otter though, not until >November. I don't know how deep the water is yet.

Do otter or muskrats eat corn too?

Very little is 100% when it comes to wildlife but, being rodents, I bet rats would go after corn but otters, being basically fish eating predators, would probably ignore it.

It was amazing. The culvert was mostly plugged, so the water backed up into the field for a ways.
At the very left side of the picture, you'll see the right edge of a ~25' long berm the beavers have constructed to keep the water in the corn field.
The water in most of the creek was VERY deep. 3 times today I saw a furbearer moving...either muskrat or beaver.
Corn stalks were way downstream.
Amazing really.

implement the dunier system at that culvert and clean those suckers out!

sounds like the dunier system is perfect for that whole project I avoid the dens till very last spooked beavers hole up costing you time

They've been doing it on our farm for over 15 yrs.
They go into the corn 20-50 yds THEN start chopping and dragging...so we end with a 1/4-1/2 acre UFO landing pad in the middle of 1 of our corn fields.

Corn stalk dams are not unusual around me. Trapped a bunch trying to stop up the drain pipe of a waterfowl impoundment with the corn planted in the impoundment a few weeks ago. They will also mow down soybeans as well even after they are dry.

from my observation those crop fed beavers tend to over populate

Jealous, my season is a month away. Post sum set pic when u connect with the fur.

Same Here

Tomorrow is my 1st check. I'll try to get more pics. They've made that creek so deep in some spots it's crazy. I only got 5 sets out the other day.

Yeah. I really have no idea how many to expect. I'm hoping to do well right away and catch 'em b4 they get spooky. Also, I'm hoping muskrats don't sneak through my 330s before the beavers. I think I may hang some snares from shore in the spots that are too deep to walk. You all think I should leave the top of the loop slighly above water so they dive through the snare?

I would leave 1/3 of the loop out of the water jus my .02

That's what I was thinking Mississippi.

The rain here has been relentless, & continues in the forecast. It's adding another element to this task.
Here's my 1st check results. I only had 5 traps out. The muskrat was in a 280.

In my neck of the woods the beaver love to harvest corn. Mainly for quick dam construction but I have seen some many,many feed beds with corn stalks. Ours are mostly bank den beaver. And for snares I usually hang them 1/3 out of water too.

So with the WI season opening in a couple weeks how does the fur look on those?

Nice start

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised.

Picture from yesterday. Check out the ~20' long 'dike' they've constructed along the farmers field road, to keep the water ponded up in the corn. It doesn't help that it keeps raining buckets here, & much more is in the forecast. Combine the rain with beaver activity, & the township had to remove the dam at this culvert today. There's still a dam ~40 yards downstream. I don't know what to expect this weekend. The h20 got so hi that the town is also worried about muskrats burrowing under the road.

Lol, I think you're right. The farmer called me this afternoon, said he can see a beaver in the same trap I got the 1st 1 in. He's excited. Me too I guess. I'll be back at it this weekend checking the other 4 traps. He poked a hole in the lower dam. I'll know if they're still active. This has turned into a very interesting call. Now their town guy called, wants me to get some muskrats that might be burrowing under the road. I was hoping this would lead to bigger things.

Well I've gotten 4 beavers there so far. None have been real big though. I reset again today. The farmer was happy as they don't seem to be rebuilding either dam now, and the farmer was able to pick his corn today.

Well done! Congrats.

We had a huge rainstorm last night and it must have put the beaver on the move. I snared this 53 pounder 5' from where I got the other 4. The farmer was as excited as me. There had been no sign for over 2 weeks but I figured I hadn't gottem them all. This hog was a corn eater I think.

Nice, good job!

Awesome

My experience with beaver and cornstalks is similar. They use it in dams and feed piles. Yet, after it’s been in the water for 2-3 weeks it loses its food value according to our DNR wildlife specialists. I’ve taken beaver thru the ice in January that we’re full of cornstalk yet had no fat on their bodies.

I use 280s and 330s in the wet trails where they enter/ exit the fields. Dry set snares work closer to the farm field entrance. The owner of Ztrap makes a beaver cage trap that works and it’s super affordable compared to Hancock traps.

The muskrats REALLY seem to like this ag spot too.

Corn field Giants! That's way common here. If you farm corn along any creek here you will get beaver for sure. Cornstalk and mud dams, stashed corn stalks for winter food, they love corn and so do rats.
There will be sections of corn cut to the ground look like crop circles with a massive trail to and from the water. I've got lots of pics around here of cornfield damage and beaver using cornstalks for dam and lodge building, food caches, etc.
Good luck and hope you get them all.
Good spots for other critters too. Rats and coon will hit the beaver flooded corn hard too.
Jim

Thanks Jim. I got 5 beavers and 23 rats there. It put an end to the beaver problem...at least for this year.