beaver bank dens

[travfeasby]

Do beavers always put a stash of food and/or insulation above their bank dens on a river?

[Bogmaster]

 They usually do, but a lot depends on where you are.
 Where the water stays open in the winter( the South) there is no need for big feed beds,as food is easily obtained all year.
 Tom

[RdFx]

Sometimes when  bvr make a bank den the roof is weak or breaks thru  so they put peeled sticks, mud , rocks. and whatever to seal  roof and provide protection.....if roof is strong and stable they dont put anything on bank... (hint)   large  trees on immediate bank usually have a bank den under roots with den entrance in water immediately below tree....  the roots keep a strong root and keep roof from caving in.... ive lost count of bvr ive taken in such locations without looking at area before trapping season...  with ice you can sound in immediate area and find thin ice or if not chop hole and look    usually on rivers you can see clearly a channel or   peeled food sticks laying outside entrance under water...  

[travfeasby]

thanks  boys  that  was the answer i  was hopeing  for . one more day till  our season comes in. you  would think a 51 yr old would not get excited anymore but beavers get me cranked.

[Bogmaster]

 Nothing like the smell of castor, to get the blood flowing.
 Tom

[trappnman]

trapping small creeks and small rivers, I very seldom ever see outward signs of a bank den by sticks, etc on top- in situations as Rd Fx says, yes, where the roof is weak- then, it looks like half a house, half a bank den.

but the rule, for me here, is no- most bank dens you need to find by wading. there is no visible indications from bankside.