I got rodents.

[icthys]

Anyone ever get rid of unwanted beavers and muskrats from their favorite waters? My private stream is starting to get over populated by these pests. I observed over a dozen muskrats working on one stretch alone. Now a new bever dam has appeared. I'm all for changes in a river but things are getting outta hand.

[chanceb]

I'm friends with a family that has a ranch in S. Idaho with the same problem. An afternoon staking out the beaver ponds with a shotgun took care of that problem.

[Curtis Fry]

I'm friends with a family that has a ranch in S. Idaho with the same problem. An afternoon staking out the beaver ponds with a shotgun took care of that problem.

At least they weren't handling fish incorrectly... ;)

[chanceb]

At least they weren't handling fish incorrectly... ;)
Curtis,
Yeah, I guess I had that one coming!

[Larry S.]

Judging by some of the posts recently if you turn them over to the fish and game and let them manage them they will soon disappear.

Just a new take on an old joke. Not meant to inflame....................;o)

See if you can contact a trapper in your area. The fish and game (or UDOT for that matter) can help you out there. Of course you have to abide by the fur-bearers proclamaton more than likely.

[Lonnie]

FYI, You can pick up live traps (mainly for Raccoons but I'm sure they'd work for beavers too) at the DWR main office downtown (near N temple and redwood rd). What would you bait them with Aspen or cottonwood? :)

[icthys]

What would you bait them with Aspen or cottonwood? :)

They seem to really like all the big cottonwoods lining the stream.

These buggars have gotta go down.

[Telefish]

My dog likes to kill muskrats, maybe you should take him fishing with you. Unfortunately they're fiesty little varmints and they manage to take some pretty good chunks out of the dog. Never mind.

What kind of damage do muskrats do to fishing? I understand the beaver impact, just never knew that muskrats had any impact. Seems like I see them all the time on the Weeb.

[PowerBaitHeppy]

seems to me like most of you are always saying things like:

"let mother nature take her course", and "mother nature can take care of herself" and "why does the DWR need to play God" and......


Now you want to go and remove beavers from the streams? Why? Are they overpopulated and need a little thinning?

Ichtys -- since it's private, you might be able to just kill the beavers, then blow the dams. I don't know anything about beaver hunting (trapping) laws , but you might want to check and make sure that it is legal to do first. The next step would be to just start shooting!

[bkastel]

Coyote, muskrat and racoon may be taken without a license but NOT beaver.

[Graycliff]

Rule 1: Don't ask

Rule 2: Observe the three S's
-Shoot
-Shovel
-Shut up


good luck

[Trav]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that beavers natural predators are not as abundant in the area? The beavers are also getting out of control on the Provo's as well.

Graycliff...that was a Grizz answer...I loved it.

[stripper]

Is it that the beavers are building dams on the stream and you dont want the ponds or the beavers are impacting the fishing in another way.

[Curtis Fry]

Curtis,
Yeah, I guess I had that one coming!

LOL, sorry I couldn't resist.

On a lighter note:

There are two beavers and they both walk into their house one leaves the door open and the other one says shut the dam door.

hehe...

[FishOn!]

Rule 1: Don't ask

Rule 2: Observe the three S's
-Shoot
-Shovel
-Shut up


good luck

........Lol

[RAW]

I can help you trap them out if you want. If it is private property, which you own, I believe you can do it by just getting permission from the DWR. You may have to prove that they are doing damage.

Okay. Who needs some muskrat (Adams dubbing) and some beaver dubbing? If processed right, the beaver fur is almost as good as that seal stuff!

[newtyer]

Itchtys,

What private stream in syracuse? Are you talking private stream in that its usually just you fishing it or private stream in that you own the property and you can fish naked with your beer helmet if you wanted to?

[Trout4x]

........ My private stream is starting to get over populated by these pests..........


When do I get to fish this with you? Is this really private or just "quiet"?


Trout4x

[icthys]

I call it my private stream because I'm the only one who fishes it, along with any guests I invite. The property is private and I'm just a lucky recipient of who knows who. Invites usually come to those who share and share alike. T4X, I think I owe you one, anyone else I still waiting for me to return the favor?

I would obviously need permission from the owners to get rid of any rodents. I don't think it would be an issue, the beavers are building new dams and removing large trees which if it were my property I'd like to keep around. Not to mention one of the ponds is getting to the point of flooding parts of the property. As far as the muskrats go, they really aren't causing much trouble, there are just quite a few of them. I haven't seen any natural predators, with the property used for cattle and sheep any predator problems would be taken care of very quickly.

[wballen smith]

You can call Gale or Kim Allen in Morgan --Both are seasoned trappers. They can give you the info you need. My brother and Gale are presently trapping for the state but Kim is Gales son so he should be avaiable.

[thor444]

Two Words for you in your Quest to kill Slappy:

Chinese Throwing Stars

[RAW]

Muskrat and beaver are two of the easiest critters to trap. No need for seasoned veterans unless that's what you prefer. Muskrats are right in the middle of mating season, which means they are moving about and are very easy to catch with the right lure. I'm telling you, dubbing!

Or skin 'em out and sell the pelts to Montgomery fur. Muskrat will probably get you around $2.50 each, beaver maybe $10-15 depending on size. Use to get more but PETA is making it unfashionable to wear fur. Think of all the fly fishing stuff you can buy with your profits!

[thor444]

I think you should hire these guys:

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=198143&nid=5

They have a hate for wildlife that I think YOU would find admirable.

Hmm, some people going up and down a river way killing stuff for no good reason? Seeing a few parallels here.

[Trout4x]

..... Invites usually come to those who share and share alike. T4X, I think I owe you one, anyone else I still waiting for me to return the favor?......


I am out waiting in your driveway!

[FlySmiley]

Is it not possible to do some good stillwater fishing in the ponds? I know its not the same but doesn't this just give you more variety in the area? Do the beaver kill/scare the fish out?

I am not defending beavers a good beaver hunt sounds like fun, I just dont know how they impact the fishing other than making pools.

[icthys]

The ponds don't have very many fish in them, the fish that are in there are nice sized rainbow though, unfortunately they don't fight worth a damn. These fish are also not healthy, one reason they don't fight. The owners have told me the ponds have to much nitrogen in them, which may be true, but something is definately not right in those ponds. So fishing these ponds isn't the attraction.

The only way I see the beavers affecting the fishing are by my observations. For some reason the fish in this river have become very shy of slow water sections which aren't limited to the beaver ponds. The only areas of slow water holding fish are those with unreal forage growth. So yeah, I'd say the beavers are affecting the fishing, another pond just means less productive fishing. It just so happens that the new pond is on a stretch where fishing had been very good.

[raposaNegra]

last weak. I was walking acroos the top of his lodge scouting the recently dewarted strecth of the dry bed (mentioned in my fish salvage thread). I figured the lodge must of been empty as there was hardly any water left..... when an unhappy beaver came barrreling out.

Made quite a racket. As it was rather unexpected it put quite the fear in me.

[newtyer]

Made quite a racket. As it was rather unexpected it put quite the fear in me.

Overly large furry beavers can be quite intimidating.

[ROOSTER]

Icthys...If you would like some assistance getting rid of "the rodents", I am game to help. I would agree that they need to go. How's the little one?

[FlySmiley]

icthys, do the beavers affect the nitrogen levels and has the fishes behavior changed because of being hunted by the beaver?

trap those buggers and make some gas money with their pelts.