Tri-cities beaver Removal
See how we trap beavers. This was a special trapping job done for the City of Bristol Tennessee where we were able to relocate the beavers to another city property.
Tri-cities beaver populations have risen so people who have never had beavers are now experiencing issues and need help with their problem. If you just discovered that you have beaver issues you probably noticed bark missing from some of your trees. Maybe some of your trees are now on the ground and you have new pond built into your stream. If this situation is new you probably have just recently acquired a couple of beavers. If you have had beaver issues for some time, then you probably have more than two beavers (at mated pair and one or more generation).
Safer Traps
Wildlife Company LLC beaver traps are large cage traps. These are much friendlier to pets and children who accidentally encounter the trap. Traditional style beaver traps aren’t nearly as safe.
Old style traps are not people or pet friendly. They are designed to crush, hold, or drown the beaver. They are large and powerful. Personally, they make me nervous. They are set in the water and the logic is that most pets and people aren’t likely to be going into the water. If set properly, the risk of catching a pet or a child are reduced, but it is not eliminated. I don’t trust this plan. I personally had a Labrador Retriever that loved the water and was glad to jump into the water in the coldest conditions. My boys do too. They were playing in a stream only a week ago (a week short of Thanksgiving). I am not comfortable with “likely”. A lot can happen when you aren’t there.
I prefer to use a friendlier type of trap. My beaver traps are supersized cage traps. The beaver crawls in, the doors shut, the Beaver is trapped inside. There is no danger to pets or children, and I have no trouble catching beavers.
Beaver lodge near Bristol’s Exit 7 shopping complex.
You May have more beavers Later
In the first three years after establishment, your colony is likely to grow. Beavers live in small family groups. Young stay with mom and dad for two years and then disperse to start life on their own. A colony of about eight individuals is common. The Exit 7 area lodge shown in the picture had 12. So if you have had Beavers for a while and you want to get rid of them it may take a more effort to trap them. If there ever has been beaver issues in your area it is highly likely that you will see them again. Beavers tend to travel streams like highways and larger streams probably have Beavers passing up and down them from time to time. Also, colonies upstream of downstream of your property may send beavers your way as they disperse their young.
Why is the Tri-cities Having More Beavers?
In a nutshell, supply and demand has been what controlled beaver populations in our region. In past decades, the demand for beaver pelts kept populations low. Now, the popularity of fur has fallen off and populations have risen. What people also don’t understand is that we do not have enough natural beaver predators and local game agencies use hunters and trappers as population regulators. Unfortunately, this strategy is not as effective as it used to be because there are just not enough trappers to solve the problem. It doesn’t matter if game agencies relax regulations if there just aren’t enough trappers to get the job done.
Beavers often show up mysteriously. This is because beavers use waterways as highways. Traveling over land is certainly possible, but traveling waterways reduces the risk of predation and is much easier compared to traveling by land. Feeding activities are also restricted to areas near water. Vegetation closer to water will be favored over vegetation farther away from water.
Beaver - Signs of trouble
When they do show up, their presence becomes obvious. Water levels begin to rise, stick and mud dams can develop literally overnight, and tracks/ trails show up near streams. Beavers can create serious issues for homeowners relatively quickly. A few of these issues include:
Beaver damage on a tree in the mountains above Damascus Va. If Beaver damage is severe enough, it will kill the tree.
Desirable trees and shrubs are cut and disappear. Beavers will cut about any tree or shrub; but they have a preference for some species. Willows, birches, and fruit trees among their favorites. There is no good reason for a beaver to bypass your landscaping or orchard for other foods. Beavers chew vegetation and create dams. That is their instinct. Any healthy beaver will do this regardless.
Ponds that develop can cover acres. The scope of this problem is related to a great extent to the topography of the area. Level or gently sloping topography will be much easier for the beavers to flood. Over time the location and size of dams and ponds may also change as allowed by topography.
Culvert and drainage pipes can be plugged. Pipes and other restrictions that water flows through are convenient locations to construct dams. Plugging a pipe is much easier for the beaver than building a dam shore to shore in a wider part of the stream. These sites will require repeated attention as beavers rebuild dams after removal. Beavers can rebuild rather quickly. Damming the culvert pipe will cause the water to rise and create a pond upstream. Subsequently, if the water overtops the structure, it may wash out and send a massive slug of water downstream. Pay attention to structures and dwellings downstream. Unplugging culvert pipes can be dangerous. Removing parts of the dam from inside the pipe will weaken the dam and could lead to a drowning inside the pipe.
Downing large trees are capable of causing property damage. If you currently have beavers, you may have already noticed that beavers do not restrict their activities to small saplings. If you have large trees near your house, the felling of a tree onto the house by beavers is a possibility.
Girdling and killing desirable trees occurs when the beaver cuts a ring around the base of a tree. Cutting bark away kills the tree in that area. If a complete ring of bark is removed from the base of a tree, the tree will, without a doubt, die. Trees decline slowly and it may even leaf out, but the conclusion is certain.
Depending on the size and location of the dam, removal can be difficult and risky. One of my college professors told the class “the best way to get rid of a beaver dam is with dynamite.” That is not a feasible option for most homeowners or course. Removal of large dams is easiest with a backhoe. However access, bank shape, etc. may prevent access with machinery. Thought also needs to be given to how much water is behind the dam and what may happen downstream once the dam is breached. Breaching a large impoundment could send a slug of water downstream with enough force to destroy property and take lives.
Beavers will respond to the sound of falling water by plugging the flow. The resulting rising water level will cause trouble for landowners. This beaver pond is located in Tazewell Virginia.