Beaver Population.

[TheNoob]

What is a good way to figure out how many Beavers are in an area, even rats, mink.

[Humptulips]

Catch them then count them.

To be serious though if it looks like there are beaver, rats, mink I don't think you can over trap them with cage traps. Trap 'till the catch drops off, then move. There'll be a few left.

[woodywsu]

If u catch a big male them probably few. If u catch momma or a little one then there can be quite a bit.

[TheNoob]

Ok thanks, Just found a good amount o branches that were stripped and wanted to know if you could tell by that.

[Hannibal]

If u catch a big male them probably few. If u catch momma or a little one then there can be quite a bit.

Since when does the male not live with the colony?,,,,,

I believe differently then Bruce,,,,,  With colony traps you can over trap rats........

[Da stump]

Young beav are usually with mommy for about two years then driven off to find their own way.  If you find an area with lots of big stuff chewed down you probably have young ones.  If you find an area with grass roots, and cattail floating, and small twigs, usually an old beav.  There are always exceptions but found this to be mostley true.   

[woodywsu]

Just seems that when I catch a big male I usually don't catch many other ones.

[Elkrunner]

I was in an area yesterday that I saw 6 huge trees that are almost falling over.  How many beavers would do that? 

[Da stump]

the young need to chew to keep there teeth worn down more so than the older ones is what i have been told.  A beaver could probably drop one a night, depending on size

[Elkrunner]

I am thinking of going back and putting up a trail cam

[BiggLuke]

Look for the food sources.
Like willow.
If there are lots of beaver... the area near the water will be stripped of food.
If very few beaver....  then there will be food everywhere and only a few downed trees.

[TheNoob]

The beaver in this spot are not taking down big trees but there are alot of smaller limbs and a nice damm. These beavers from what I know have been there for atleast 2+ years and they dont have a hunt they have built a den under a nice big fir tree in the side of a bank.

[Humptulips]

The beaver in this spot are not taking down big trees but there are alot of smaller limbs and a nice damm. These beavers from what I know have been there for atleast 2+ years and they dont have a hunt they have built a den under a nice big fir tree in the side of a bank.

Typical, it is rare to find a beaver house/hut at least on the west side.

[Da stump]

there are more bank dens than beaver huts for a large population, a single set of ponds probably hold at the most two adults and two kits.  Trap light and next year you will still have animals.  I only like to take one beav out of a system with about five connected ponds.  There are enough that by traveling a bit you can get all you can handle.  If you get in an area that seems extensive then you can take a few.  Just remember that undertrapping an area is better than killing off all the brood stock.  Think of it like farming.

[Hannibal]

a single set of ponds probably hold at the most two adults and two kits.

Not sure were you got this info but i believe it is false..........

I only like to take one beav out of a system with about five connected ponds

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