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View Full Version : A beaver did this!?



Cookerhiker
01-19-2006, 17:09
We encountered this tree along the Housatonic River slightly north of Stewart Hollow Brook Leanto. We also saw numerous smaller saplings cut or partially cut but nothing this large. I'd estimate this was about 2 feet in diameter.

The wood chips were fresh. Perhaps by now - a week later - the tree's been toppled.

Neither Deb nor I ever saw such a large tree attacked by beavers. Has anyone else?

kyhipo
01-19-2006, 17:17
I have seen some beaver damage out in Oregon and various areas but that looks like they must of liked the taste of the tree:) ky

rickb
01-19-2006, 17:19
Must have been a big beaver! :)

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Fiddler
01-19-2006, 17:24
Sure it wasn't a T-Rex? Biggest tree I ever saw them cut was maybe 10 inches.

rickb
01-19-2006, 17:27
The biggest beavers live up north. You get cuts like that 10 and 20 feet up from the ground.

stupe
01-19-2006, 17:53
According to the Stokes Guide to Animal Tracking and Behavior, beaver can grow to 55 pounds. That's a big beaver!

gsingjane
01-19-2006, 18:56
Personally, what I think did this was the hellgrammites that attacked us the last time we stayed at Stewart Hollow!!!!

Jane in CT

Hikerhead
01-19-2006, 19:21
Looks like they have plans to build a log cabin.

Doctari
01-19-2006, 19:48
Yes, I have seen bigger. Not much bigger, tho. And these beavers don't build dams or lodges as the stream they live on is to, , , unpredictable. According to the ranger I talked with, they dig holes in the bank, no, not muskrats.

Area? SW Ohio. Near Harrison Ohio.

I was surprised let me tell you.

Doctari.

icemanat95
01-19-2006, 21:29
I've seen them hit and take down trees much larger than that, up to 2 feet in diameter. They take down the tree if they can and strip the bark and cambium layer from top to bottom, take the branches for their dams and lodges and leave the heartwood of the tree to rot.

Beavers can do a tremendous amount of damage very quickly. Once they girdle a tree, whether they chew it down or not, it's dead, and beaver will girdle a lot more trees than they take down and use.

Cookerhiker
01-19-2006, 22:05
I've seen them hit and take down trees much larger than that, up to 2 feet in diameter.....

Maybe you can't tell from the photo but this tree was nearly 2 feet in diameter.

dudley
01-20-2006, 09:45
Yes, I have seen bigger. Not much bigger, tho. And these beavers don't build dams or lodges as the stream they live on is to, , , unpredictable. According to the ranger I talked with, they dig holes in the bank

"Bank"beavers are generally older males that are kicked out of the colony because they are lazy :rolleyes:
It's not as much work digging a den in the stream bank as it is building a lodge and maintaining a damn.

justinwp
01-21-2006, 23:13
i've seen quite a few trees like that in WI

The Desperado
01-22-2006, 00:10
Ive seen a number of them in the n/w part of New Jersey...Sussex-Warren county area. A few were the size of your photo i'd guess.

superman
01-29-2008, 10:47
I have a river beaver that returned to my property. The Smith River runs across the back of my property just below my barn. Last year it took down a real nice oak tree that stood between the barn and the carriage shed. The beaver moved on after that, before I could find it's hole. I just found that it has returned and has chewed the bark off all the way around a white birch that was standing straight and tall on the edge of my lower field. I'd like to get that beaver before it realizes that I planted fruit trees. I know that your supposed to find the beaver hole and set a trap at the opening. It's a bit difficult to follow the river this time of year. Is there any bait that a river beaver will go after?:-?

MOWGLI
01-29-2008, 11:00
Clearly the work of a Ground Sloth. :rolleyes:

woodsy
01-29-2008, 11:09
Oak, Beaver tooth sharpener.

Pedaling Fool
01-29-2008, 11:12
There's a place just a little south of Laurel Falls that have numerous trees chewed on by beavers.

Freeleo
01-29-2008, 11:15
Yes, I have seen bigger. Not much bigger, tho. And these beavers don't build dams or lodges as the stream they live on is to, , , unpredictable. According to the ranger I talked with, they dig holes in the bank, no, not muskrats.

Area? SW Ohio. Near Harrison Ohio.

I was surprised let me tell you.

Doctari.

miami whitewater??????????

MOWGLI
01-29-2008, 11:18
A Saber Toothed Beaver??

woodsy
01-29-2008, 11:19
Here is a theory from a wildlife source:

Beaver's girdle trees in this manner to ensure that they will die and fall down so they can use them to build damns and lodges.

superman
01-29-2008, 12:03
Here is a theory from a wildlife source:

My theory is that the beaver is killing my trees just to p--s me off.

Pedaling Fool
01-29-2008, 12:09
I guess you're a tree-hugger:D

woodsy
01-29-2008, 12:13
My theory is that the beaver is killing my trees just to p--s me off.
Know what you mean, I've got a troop of them on the back 40, they built me a nice wildlife pond, put 3' tall chicken wire around the trees I wanted saved,
it works.:)

mudhead
01-29-2008, 12:14
My theory is that the beaver is killing my trees just to p--s me off.

I feel that heat.

Beaver bait=poplar branches.

Dump a small one and drag it where you need it.

Be aware that rules pertain here. Silence is golden.

Some places against the rules to feed wildlife.

Pedaling Fool
01-29-2008, 12:16
Know what you mean, I've got a troop of them on the back 40, they built me a nice wildlife pond, put 3' tall chicken wire around the trees I wanted saved,
it works.:)
I'm no expert, but doesn't this go against LNT principles. Shouldn't you just let nature run it's course.

warraghiyagey
01-29-2008, 12:17
When beavers go bad.

woodsy
01-29-2008, 12:19
I'm no expert, but doesn't this go against LNT principles. Shouldn't you just let nature run it's course.

You can if you want, this ain't no national park I'm talking about, and if I want to save a few Oak trees...........don't tell anyone ok?

Wanderingson
01-29-2008, 12:21
Frank Drebin: Nice Beaver! Jane Spencer: Thanks I just had it stuffed

warraghiyagey
01-29-2008, 12:21
Frank Drebin: Nice Beaver! Jane Spencer: Thanks I just had it stuffed
Classic.:D

superman
01-29-2008, 12:40
If I had my way the beaver would come in second in a race with one of my 7.62 rounds. It's a stealthy critter. Last year the town tried to trap it down stream from my property without success. This is one of those "don't ask, don't tell" things. No one is going to bemoan the loss of this beaver. There's a bird sanctuary that is in danger of being flooded also.

I planted 20 fruit trees and there are a bunch of good healthy trees that need protection. I can protect 30 trees until a final solution presents itself.

Two Speed
01-29-2008, 12:40
Believe it or not, beaver are starting to reappear in the metro Atlanta area. Gotta give 'em credit, they sure can make a good ol' swampy mess out of a small stream. The bad part is the pelts aren't worth taking down here; not cold enough to make the beaver put on a good pelt.

Pedaling Fool
01-29-2008, 12:43
If I had my way the beaver would come in second in a race with one of my 7.62 rounds....
7.62 on a beaver! You're a true treehugger:D

superman
01-29-2008, 12:50
7.62 on a beaver! You're a true treehugger:D

I've been called a lot worse that "tree hugger." Head shot = Beaver...it's what's for dinner.:D