When to Pull Beaver Traps

Sometimes when trapping problem, nuisance beaver the biggest challenge for a trapper is when to finish the job and pull up your traps.

I have trapped nuisance beaver for close to forty years. I have been successful at catching a lot of beaver and other animals but I still question myself when it is time to finish the job and pull my traps up. I do not know it all. But I have had pretty good luck at deciding when it is time to pull.

Let me state up front that what I am going to detail is from my own traplines in Northern Illinois. It is quite possible that in other areas of the country conditions are different and these thoughts/methods simply do not apply. So use them at your own discretion.

So there you are. You have again arrived at the job and are staring at the beaver dam. The water is flowing steadily from the opening you created the day before. You’ve already removed a number of animals and then the traps were empty yesterday and now again today. You searched the area looking for fresh sign and none was present. So is time to pull?

Here are a few things that I have found that helps me determine if I am done with the job.

First off, I like the dam to remain open for at least two consecutive days, the longer the better. In situations where I am driving long distances, I arrange for the customer, be it a private property owner or a public agency worker to check the dam for me. This a huge time saver and can save you money from fuel expense. Note: current gas prices here are almost five dollars a gallon and diesel is at six dollars a gallon. Do the math.

Before you ask the overseers to check the dam, be sure to give them a few things to look for in the general area. Obviously, is the water flowing, and how well is it flowing? Is it just trickling over or is it pouring over like when you left it the day before. Did they notice any sticks or debris in the dam opening? This will help you determine what might be going on.

Today's technology continues to improve daily. By taking a picture/video of the dam opening and sending it to the folks that are checking the dam for you, it lets them have something to compare with.

I guess since we are talking about technology we better discuss game cameras as everyone is using them today. Game cameras work there is no doubt about it but they are not cheap to replace. I have heard stories of expensive cameras being stolen and others that were shot by trespassers. Be sure to include replacement costs in your job quote if you use them.

When placing your cameras out, be sure to position one camera facing upstream and another along the dam to cover all bases.

When I am thinking it is time to pull traps up. I do a search upstream and downstream looking for subtle signs of beaver activity. Some new trappers might think that beaver just build and repair the dam from the upstream side. They are wrong.

These animals are excellent climbers and are literally all over the dam inspecting it. If I find indications of tracks, fresh mud or new cuttings those are signs of a possibility that beaver are still present.

Note any cut trees or bushes and inspect them for fresh cuttings. In many cases, you’ll see fresh chips/shavings on the ground where the beaver were chewing. I remove these before I leave and go back to examine the area later when I think I am finished with the job.

After all of the preliminary steps are taken, consider the weather. Beaver seem to move best during and after rain. If you are ready to pull the job and rain is forecasted the next day or so, I suggest to hold off for one more check.

Remember, taking care of your customers is just good business. Having them have to repeat the job of pulling a dam again will test their patience. Not to mention the extra cost in cases of using heavy machinery.

I talk with beaver trappers all over the country and I get a sense of their working conditions. One common theme seems to be becoming apparent; some beaver will live in very low water conditions. And surprisingly these beaver are not in a hurry to repair the dam?

I have only seen this oddity a few times on my traplines and it is surprising. I remember caught a family of beaver out for local farmer one year. There were 6 animals caught, two adults and four kits. A typical family unit here in Northern Illinois.

I waited a few days as previously described and checked for fresh sign before telling the landowner that I was done. He pulled the dam the next day. A month passed and I was in the area and called to see if any new activity was found he said he was just out to the creek yesterday and nothing was discovered and that the water was very low.

A week passed by and he called with news of a new beaver dam that popped up. He said he walked the creek bank three days prior looking for arrowheads and that the water was ankle deep. The fact that hadn’t had any rain for weeks just reaffirmed that there was a beaver living in very low water conditions.

I’ll mention one more factor that trappers can consider and that is time of the year when the trapping is taking place. I thought I had this factor all figured out until a situation popped up and blew my theory out of the water. Guess I’m still learning.

Around here, from about the months of late February until early June beaver kits are being born and cared for by the adult female. The dam is very important to the beaver family.

My findings is the beaver will repair the dam nightly if possible. But start catching family members and things can get inconsistent. The dam will go un-repaired for long periods of time.

Another time of the year that gets goofy around here is the month of August. I don’t know if it is too hot or the beaver are more concerned with food but you can open a dam up and have the creek almost dry up and it will not be repaired for weeks.

Things can get very confusing at times but I guess that’s why we do what we do. Keep learning and stay at it. Good luck.