Author Topic: beaver question (Read 326 times)

wormbobskey · « **on:** December 28, 2004, 01:16:16 PM »

Can anyone tell me something about air holes in bank dens? I'm trapping a lake for beaver that is froze over. Most of the beaver make bank dens instead of lodges. The question is if the hole is active will the air hole up on the bank have frost around it or not? Thanks, Worm.

blackpowder man 0106 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2004, 02:26:34 PM »

Wow, heres something Ifinally have some input about-

yeah, the airholes will usually have frost around them if they're active. Same thing with normal lodges. I only trapped 2 bank dens and i did both when there was cold weather- both had frost around the airholes whenever it froze at night. only thing was, whenever there was alot of moisture the day before and then froze over, you couldnt notice the forst... had to be a few days with no precipitation or thawing before i was ever sure they were still using that den.

hope that helps

dustin

RdFx · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2004, 02:29:56 PM »

The bank dens with vent holes will have frost even if there arent bvr in them as the heat from the underground den that isnt frozen gives off air warmer than outside cold air... Even unocuppied bvr houses on ponds will have frost on thier vent holes... I suppose with bvr living in them they would possibly have more frost becuase of heat coming off bvrs bodies.... Also otter or muskrats live in abandoned bvr dens so heat will come off those inhabitants also.....

wormbobskey · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2004, 04:27:56 PM »

Thanks for the replies. I went into this area blind, having no idea where the beaver would be. The lake is a state park and I got it because of the nuisance beaver flooding trails and eating all the trees. I have found an active lodge and feed pile, but so far it is the only one I have found. There are crawl out paths everywhere, but it looks like they worked an area over than moved down the bank. It looks to be a pretty active lodge as all the water is open except the fringes of the feed pile. I'm assuming it is from all the beaver moving around the lodge and feed pile. I made some baited 330 sets and a few castor mound sets as well. Hope to have traps full of beaver tomorrow. Worm