Minnesota Outdoorsman

Hunting Forums => Trapping, Furbearers, Small game => Topic started by: dakids on July 07/09/19, 09:29:39 PM

Title: Huge castor mounds
Post by: dakids on July 07/09/19, 09:29:39 PM
I trapped this lake last year.  It has 6 active lodges so there are a lot of beaver on the lake.  I trapped  25 beaver In 4 days last fall.  2 lodges are on the north end and the ather 4 are on the south.  The southern lodges all have about a 5 to 10 acre bay.  And where these 4 bays meet I found these huge castor mounds.  Easily the largest I have ever seen. Tallest one is close to 3 feet tall

Beavers make castor mounds to mark their territory.  Similar to a deer scrape.

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Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: glenn57 on July 07/09/19, 11:11:30 PM
 :happy1: that's cool. Are these near every beaver house or just when there is more then 1 group? I gotta start looking for those.
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: dakids on July 07/10/19, 02:27:53 PM
Most all beavers make a castor mound.  Usually they are smaller than a basketball.
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: Reinhard on July 07/10/19, 03:31:59 PM
I thought they just make the dams and lodges.  Very interesting.  Next time up north I'm going to check on those.  good luck.
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: Rebel SS on July 07/10/19, 03:49:56 PM
Huh! I never knew that! So, that would be where to set the beaver traps?
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: dakids on July 07/10/19, 05:27:54 PM
Quote from: Rebel SS on July 07/10/19, 03:49:56 PM
Huh! I never knew that! So, that would be where to set the beaver traps?

Yes and no.  In this location, no.  The caught beaver would be attacked and look like swiss cheese in the morning.  If there is only one colony it's a great spot for a trap.  Last year I only trapped the runs leading to where the beavers were exiting the water to cut down trees. 
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: Rebel SS on July 07/10/19, 06:53:10 PM
Thanks! Did a little reading up on it, and came across this, kinda fun to watch. (or not).

https://youtu.be/kgMvv0lHM7g
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: LPS on July 07/11/19, 03:56:38 PM
Cool video.  Takes a lot of chewing to down a tree like that.  He may want to reconsider his exit strategy though.  The tree almost fell on him. 
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: Rebel SS on July 07/11/19, 05:58:35 PM
I never realized how much damage they do or fudge waterways up...
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: dakids on July 07/11/19, 09:24:24 PM
Quote from: Rebel SS on July 07/11/19, 05:58:35 PM
I never realized how much damage they do or fudge waterways up...

I asked my neighbor behind my house to trap the beaver that had moved In.  He said no because his wife liked to watch them.  2 years later he asked me to get rid of all of them.
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: deadeye on July 07/11/19, 09:40:25 PM
Love em or hate em.  Depends on if they are on your land or not.   :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Huge castor mounds
Post by: LPS on July 07/12/19, 06:38:36 AM
LOW county is full of marshes creeks etc.  Beaver paradise.  Ditches are plugged constantly from beaver dams.  Constant issue here.  Bounties to get rid of them in an area then blow the dam and a few weeks later it starts all over again.