[lefty]

Hi gang
A friend of mine just had a beaver move into his pond. Not stream, pond. It's got no streams feeding it, either, which we both agreed was odd for a beaver. Best he can figure is that it's the only water left that the darn critter could find.

Anyhow -- is this new guest a good thing, a bad thing, or a neutral thing?

The only stories I've heard have been of beavers damming streams and washing under banks... Never heard of them taking up residence in still water.

I've got one recommendation along the lines of "where there's one, there'll be more", and that they're likely to start knocking down trees, so it'd be best to call the Extension Service and find someone to trap and relocate him sooner rather than later.... Anybody got any reason to recommend otherwise?

Thx - lefty

 

[rye]

you are right, where there is one, there will be more. Any small trees he's got he can count as gone, and from what I hear they will put a dent in his fish population too.

 

[Muddy Water]

The beaver won't hurt the fish. Beavers are vegetarians, eating the inner bark of trees. Now, the trees and shrubs around the pond are a different story! If theirs not much vegetation near the pond, he'll likely soon move on. By the way, two of my best friends are federal beaver trappers and I've gone with them several times. Interesting work. If the beaver sticks around, I'd advise you to call the USDA Wildlife Services office in Raleigh.

 

[rye]

I've got some friends that trap Beaver.. if you wait until season comes in, I am sure they'd come get it for him. If you call a ADC trapper, you'll have to pay for it. Get one of these guys and they'll do it just to earn the money on the fur sale.

 

[tcfisherman]

thats so true , the beavers like there vegatation and they will make a real mess of the small trees, my father n law had problems with them building a den in a small stream behind his house, he could remove the den today and two days later build it back stopping up the stream. i would take action now to stop damage to trees and prevent others from coming in. my 2cents for what its worth.................chris

 

[sundrop]

I'd much rather see the beaver relocated than wrapped around somebodys shoulders... I think we have plenty of things to keep us warm without taking furs..

 

[tcfisherman]

amen Drop, Relocate To The Far Side Of The Woods..........................chris

 

[rye]

I'd much rather see the beaver relocated than wrapped around somebodys shoulders... I think we have plenty of things to keep us warm without taking furs..

Oh boy.... here we go...

 

[Muddy Water]

Not telling you NOT to do it, but I'm pretty sure it's illegal to "relocate" beaver. The federal trappers here have told me it's illegal...at least for them. Anyway, makes since. You'd just be moving the problem to somebody elses property.

 

[tcfisherman]

well down east we have trapper come and remove to other places its a state run operation, i dont understand the illegal part......................chris

 

[backlash]

Oh boy.... here we go...

Boy , I would hate to see it on someone's shoulders as well. That would be a terrible waste of Fly tying material.

 

[tcfisherman]

but, remember backlash we still have the dogs and cats ................chris

 

[lefty]

Not telling you NOT to do it, but I'm pretty sure it's illegal to "relocate" beaver. The federal trappers here have told me it's illegal...at least for them.

That's the good thing about calling a government department like the Extension Service... they're not likely to suggest an illegal option, and if they do, you've got a pretty reasonable defense.

 

[sundrop]

My opinion, I said it, I stand by it. Might right just as it is yours to disagree... I'll fight to protect your rights and expect the same... Plenty of pros and cons for and against the beaver.. I'm Pro Beaver!!...LOL

BTW, If were gonna stir it lets do it well. Heres one for ya! "Just because it is Illegal, doesnt mean it is wrong..."

 

[Muddy Water]

I in general, like beavers too. I think they create great wildlife habitate...if kept to acceptable levels. I've got a small stream on the back of a piece of property I own. Beavers are downstream. Kinda hoping they will move upstream and build a nice pond on my property. However, I wouldn' t want them to become TOO prolific and destroy too many of my trees. Remember, beavers no longer have natural preditors because we've eliminated them. So now, it's up to us to keep them to acceptable populations.

Hey TCfisherman, I think you have one of those retired federal beaver trappers living there in Vanceboro. I think his name is Claudie Taylor.

I'm supposed to be moved to New Bern when my job finishishes up here. My wife and I are looking pretty hard at the Vanceboro area when that happens. We like the small town, country atmosphere better than New Bern.

 

[sundrop]

Muddy I agree. Moderation, conservation.

Vanceboro is handy to New Bern. Not a bad little town. My wife and I have been talking about moving down that way ourselves. Vanceboro or Aurora. It is a couple of years off as we have to get 2 houses ready and sold before we could, but it is a thought. Washington is just not rural enough for me. I don't like living in town...and I sure disagree with local Government around here ( but I generally disagree with any government these days anyway..LOL)

 

[tcfisherman]

you are correct sir,i could not think of claudie name before, we would love to have you in our town, give me a pm sometime when your coming this way,and would be glad to show you around...................chris

 

[Muddy Water]

Thanks Chris and Sundrop,

The wife and I did a scouting mission earlier this summer checking out New Bern, Pollocksville, and Vanceboro. We spent the most time on Vanceboro. We had a nice meal at Vera's Diner. Vanceboro looks like a nice, clean well kept up town. Just enough aminities that you don't have to go to the "big town" often, but close enough that it's not a big hassle if you do.
I work for NRCS (formally Soil Conservation Service). Don't know exactly when I will be moved, but hey, well might all end up being neighbors before long. We'll probably make another scouting trip or two shortly after we get notification of the move. I'll send y'all a pm then.

I don't know Claudie personally, but his ex-coworkers are my best friends.
I asked one of them about the beaver relocation a few minutes ago. He said it is against USDA regulation for THEM as gov. employees to relocate them, but you as a private citizen may do it. However, he said that if the relocated beavers do damage to property or timber where you relocate them to, the landowner can sue you for those damages. Therefore, I'd recommend a highly covert relocation mission if that's the avenue anybody chooses.

 

[tcfisherman]

i think Claudie was doing this as a favor to my father n law, they have been friends for years...............................chris

 

[wolfpackcpa]

Just wanted to put a word of caution in as far as the beaver goes. If your friend has dogs, make sure that he watches them. An old girlfriend's dog has been in a tussle with a beaver. Nothing dramatic came as a result but that beaver can definitely take care of his own (when provoked by a nosey dog).