A beaver did this!?

[Cookerhiker]

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]

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]

Must have been a big beaver!

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[Fiddler]

Sure it wasn't a T-Rex? Biggest tree I ever saw them cut was maybe 10 inches.

[rickb]

The biggest beavers live up north. You get cuts like that 10 and 20 feet up from the ground.

[stupe]

According to the Stokes Guide to Animal Tracking and Behavior, beaver can grow to 55 pounds. That's a big beaver!

[gsingjane]

Personally, what I think did this was the hellgrammites that attacked us the last time we stayed at Stewart Hollow!!!!

Jane in CT

[Hikerhead]

Looks like they have plans to build a log cabin.

[Doctari]

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]

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]

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]

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
It's not as much work digging a den in the stream bank as it is building a lodge and maintaining a damn.

[justinwp]

i've seen quite a few trees like that in WI

[The Desperado]

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]

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]

Clearly the work of a Ground Sloth.

[woodsy]

Oak, Beaver tooth sharpener.

[Pedaling Fool]

There's a place just a little south of Laurel Falls that have numerous trees chewed on by beavers.

[Freeleo]

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]

A Saber Toothed Beaver??