Hairy water critters

[JPGLSG]

Those of you that happen to be in the know. I live on the Alcovy River here in rural eastern GA. There is three channels that run off the river into my property when the river level is high due to the heavy rain fall in the months of late December through the middle of March. They all drain back into the river at one chock point that seems to collect all the large limbs, logs and everything else. The beaver have decided this would be an excellent place to construct a dam. It creates one 5 acre lake and two 1 acre lakes in the back woods. The river is now running at normal levels and for not the dam the lakes would be drained by now. I have open the dam three times within a two weeks and the water for the most part is not running much at all. I'm hoping it will just get the picture and move on, I would prefer not to trap or shot it if I don't have to. However I have seen what those little bastages can do to large trees as they or it have dropped a couple of white oaks of good size this winter. I have combed the better part of 12 acres looking for a den or beaver house, I have found nothing. The only thing I'm seeing is some deep cut outs in the river bank about three feet above the water line that looks to extent several yards/feet back into the river bank. Is this a habitat that river beaver use for their dens???

This dam is becoming a pain in the ass each year to keep clear, I have spoken to several County Govt officials. When I bring up the words dynamite and where and who can I get some from, they all look at me like I'm some sort of back actor up to no good. The dam is about thirty feet long and would take a crew to remove all of it, I'm able to keep about a ten foot section running.

Any ideas or suggestions would be welcomed.

 

[GunnyGene]

Gators. :wink:

 

[Bob Wright]

Gators. :wink:

Yeah, that'll solve his problem!


Bob Wright

 

[GunnyGene]

Gators. :wink:

Yeah, that'll solve his problem!


Bob Wright

There are very few problems that cannot be solved by the judicious application of high explosives, or gators. :lol: :wink:

 

[Fox Mike]

Is the dam on you property? If so, dynamite is also used for stump removal. :mrgreen:

 

[pisgah]

Brother, removing the dam just encourages them. They'll build it back in no time whatsoever. The only solution -- kill the beavers, one way or another -- and that'll only work until the next bunch comes in.

Here's a helpful hint on shooting them. Get yourself a battery-powered duck decoy, the kind that flaps it's wings and makes a ruckus. Set it afloat in an area of the pond where you have a good view. They can't stand it -- they'll come for a look. When they do -- 12 ga., BB shot. Dead beaver. Sounds crazy. Works like a charm.

Here in SC beavers are classified right along with coyotes -- shoot on sight.

 

[Kevin]

Use the dynamite, just don't ask for permission first....

 

[contender]

Ahh Jim,, right up my alley. In fact, I've trapped 2 beaver this week.
Beaver are considered a nuisance, and can cause major damage to woodlands & crops. Trapping, shooting etc is the best control method. Removing a dam only makes them work hard at rebuilding it,,, and they cut down more trees to get materials. We need to talk,,, on the phone,, and I can offer help & advice on how, what & where to deal with them.

 

[Tom W]

When you breach the dam again have a ten foot section of schedule 40 pipe capped at both ends and a lot of big holes drilled through the pipe, but not the caps. Leave it where the beavers can easily find it and they will use it to try to fix the dam, but the holes ain't gonna help them. Being beavers, they don't know this and see the pipe as a funny looking log.
I learned this when working at the NWR in Eufaula.

Of course some det cord, Kinney sticks, blasting caps and a lot of electrical tape, 300 feet of UF wire and a six volt battery are also good.

And the fuzzy little critters will make holes in the banks for dens, rather than the more common dens seen in the ponds. A strong wire snare held open with a bent welding rod in front of the hole will catch them, but you gotta shoot them when you catch them.They don't take kindly to being snared.

 

[Mobuck]

I have no idea of your state game regs but "talking to several County Govt officials" may be barking up the wrong tree. Problems with wild animals often fall under the jurisdiction of the state game commission(ie: bunny cops/possum police). In MO, damaging/destroying/removing a beaver dam is considered equal to destroying their home or den and is illegal except under specific permit from the state.
I can assure you that removing part or even all the dam(s) mechanically is futile. They WILL return. I fought the effects of a beaver infestation for years and finally overcame the problem albeit by nefarious ways.
Last year, I participated in a wetland restoration and county road protection project. That involved both state and Federal permits to drain the area with an excavator and shoot or trap any/every amphibious mammal(beavers & muskrats) living within the area. I shot over that area morning and evening for 3 weeks and finally any survivors(IF there were any) simply vacated.
My point is: you might get a depredation permit to reduce the number of beavers BUT you won't get them all and even if you do, others will re-populate such a suitable area.

 

[nvbirdman]

Go to a local black powder shoot and ask some of the mountain man guys if they want to trap some beaver.

 

[SR1911SHOOTER]

Those of you that happen to be in the know. I live on the Alcovy River here in rural eastern GA. There is three channels that run off the river into my property when the river level is high due to the heavy rain fall in the months of late December through the middle of March. They all drain back into the river at one chock point that seems to collect all the large limbs, logs and everything else. The beaver have decided this would be an excellent place to construct a dam. It creates one 5 acre lake and two 1 acre lakes in the back woods. The river is now running at normal levels and for not the dam the lakes would be drained by now. I have open the dam three times within a two weeks and the water for the most part is not running much at all. I'm hoping it will just get the picture and move on, I would prefer not to trap or shot it if I don't have to. However I have seen what those little bastages can do to large trees as they or it have dropped a couple of white oaks of good size this winter. I have combed the better part of 12 acres looking for a den or beaver house, I have found nothing. The only thing I'm seeing is some deep cut outs in the river bank about three feet above the water line that looks to extent several yards/feet back into the river bank. Is this a habitat that river beaver use for their dens???

This dam is becoming a pain in the ass each year to keep clear, I have spoken to several County Govt officials. When I bring up the words dynamite and where and who can I get some from, they all look at me like I'm some sort of back actor up to no good. The dam is about thirty feet long and would take a crew to remove all of it, I'm able to keep about a ten foot section running.

Any ideas or suggestions would be welcomed.

Trappers.
GO to the state. In Texas they have a section of the Wildlife Department
Comes out and evaluates the potential for damage to your land.
Maybe Georgia, has something similar. They are kind of like a
government agency that is in the dark. Not advertised. I had a problem with otters
in my stock tanks, and they said I could trap them, shoot them, but
had to leave them, no pelts.
Viola, no more otters.
Let me know what you find out.
Blackie

 

[GunnyGene]

Those of you that happen to be in the know. I live on the Alcovy River here in rural eastern GA. There is three channels that run off the river into my property when the river level is high due to the heavy rain fall in the months of late December through the middle of March. They all drain back into the river at one chock point that seems to collect all the large limbs, logs and everything else. The beaver have decided this would be an excellent place to construct a dam. It creates one 5 acre lake and two 1 acre lakes in the back woods. The river is now running at normal levels and for not the dam the lakes would be drained by now. I have open the dam three times within a two weeks and the water for the most part is not running much at all. I'm hoping it will just get the picture and move on, I would prefer not to trap or shot it if I don't have to. However I have seen what those little bastages can do to large trees as they or it have dropped a couple of white oaks of good size this winter. I have combed the better part of 12 acres looking for a den or beaver house, I have found nothing. The only thing I'm seeing is some deep cut outs in the river bank about three feet above the water line that looks to extent several yards/feet back into the river bank. Is this a habitat that river beaver use for their dens???

This dam is becoming a pain in the ass each year to keep clear, I have spoken to several County Govt officials. When I bring up the words dynamite and where and who can I get some from, they all look at me like I'm some sort of back actor up to no good. The dam is about thirty feet long and would take a crew to remove all of it, I'm able to keep about a ten foot section running.

Any ideas or suggestions would be welcomed.

Trappers.
GO to the state. In Texas they have a section of the Wildlife Department
Comes out and evaluates the potential for damage to your land.
Maybe Georgia, has something similar. They are kind of like a
government agency that is in the dark. Not advertised. I had a problem with otters
in my stock tanks, and they said I could trap them, shoot them, but
had to leave them, no pelts.
Viola, no more otters.
Let me know what you find out.
Blackie

In MS, Beaver are a nuisance animal and may be taken by any means at any time day or night on your own land. Public land is a little different.

 

[blume357]

The only thing I can add is yes, they are most probably living in a den in one of the banks beside the river.

 

[Mobuck]

Call Contender, he's a pro.

 

[contender]

I just got on the computer,,, and I had a PM from the OP. I just called,, and he's unavailable right now. I left him a message. We'll get together on this.

Now, as for the state being involved.
Different states,, result in different laws & attitudes about all wild animals.
In NC,, in general, nuisance animals are handled by folks like myself certified in Animal Damage Control. I can write a permit to trap outside the season, as long as there is visible damage to property. Another method,, finding a trapper who is willing to do it under trapping laws & season. A property owner or tenant can also shoot a nuisance beaver as long as it's a legal place to shoot. (No inside city limits shooting.)
Other states,, they can have different laws about such stuff, as well as SOME state paid damage control agents. But, in general, unless it's beneficial to the state in some way,, they often leave it to the property owner. Keeping folks on a payroll cost in budgets & your taxes.
The best way to find out what is LEGAL in your state is to first get a copy of your state wildlife hunting & trapping regulations. Study those. Next, you can contact your state wildlife commission to ask politely about how to deal with nuisance wildlife. You may get transferred a few times to the right department but you can usually get the answers you seek.

Here is a tidbit of info. Trapping live animals,, and relocating them to state or federal land can be a felony. ASK first!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GunnyGene]

Here is a tidbit of info. Trapping live animals,, and relocating them to state or federal land can be a felony. ASK first!!!!!!!!!!

It absolutely is in MS for hogs. You better kill 'em in the trap.

Transportation of Wild Hogs

Importation of wild hogs into the state of Mississippi is prohibited.

No person may transport on public roads or off the property of record where captured or relocate within the state any live feral hog, wild swine, or Russian Boar within the State of Mississippi, without first obtaining a Live Wild Hog Transportation Permit for each wild hog being transported.

There is no restriction on the transportation of dead wild hogs.

Punishment for the Illegal Transport and Release of Wild Hogs

"A violation of this section, upon conviction, is punishable as a Class I violation. Any person who has been convicted of a Class I violation shall be fined not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) no more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for five (5) days. The person shall also forfeit all hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges for a period of not less than twelve (12) consecutive months from the date of conviction"

 

[JPGLSG]

I looking to return Mr Tyrone's phone call tonight, Sunday. I was out back today opening up what these little bastages had hauled back to the chock point. The water in the area is now draining very light and they may move on or not. Now that the water is low and mostly drained form the lakes they created the main dam is much bigger than I thought. Its going to take quite a bit of power to move this structure.

I did take SR1911 advice about contacting the GA Wildlife Department, found an office in Social Circle, GA, not far away, but they were closed by the time I got to them so Monday I'll reach out.

I do appreciate everyone's ideas and suggestions, I sat back at the main dam for six hours Saturday with my blaster thinking something would show up. All I saw was three muskrats and what looked to be a mink of some kind and some ducks. I did get see where the red tails are nesting and watched them mate twice, it sure wasn't a wasted day in the woods.

Stay tuned I'm gonna get these critters and get these dams gone one way or another, even if I have to get the Gunny to catch some gators for me to move up here.

 

[contender]

Well, he called & we've had a good discussion. I'm sure he'll get it done,,, right!

 

[Tom W]

In Alabama they are considered nuisance animals, or were......