The North American otter (Castor canadensis) is a mammal that lives near water and is a rodent found in North America. They are found in North America, including nearly all of Canada and the United States. Prized for their fur, otters are also commonly caught for research purposes and to avoid missing trees or flooding. See step 1 for an effective and humane way to catch beavers.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Looking for the Beaver
Step 1. Know the legality of catching otters in your location
Otters are rarely subject to legal hunting, unlike deer and moose. However, depending on your state, regulations regarding catching beavers may or may not exist. In some states, such as Georgia, where otter populations are high and have few hunting regulations, the season for catching otters is all year round. In other states, such as North Carolina, there is a season devoted to catching otters. Before buying a trap or planning an expedition to catch otters, it's wise to double-check the laws on catching beavers in your area.
Keep in mind that the season in some states for catching otters “usually” runs between November or December and March or April. The beaver's fur is usually best in the winter months
Step 2. Know the beaver's natural habitat
Although the North American beaver is native to Canada, it can be found throughout the North American continent, from the isolated city of Northern Mexico to the entire Canadian desert except in the coldest parts. Otters are mammals that live close to water, so they are usually found around lakes and rivers. They usually build dams and dwellings called huts in these water places. Beavers work quickly, and they are avid builders. They use mud, branches, and trees in their structures. Beavers rely on water and suitable foliage to build their homes, meaning they cannot be found in arid environments or in deserts, such as in the southwest of the United States and parts of Mexico. Beavers are also not found on the Florida peninsula.
In addition, although otters are almost extinct in Europe, they can now be found in Poland, the Czech Republic, and some countries in eastern Europe
Step 3. Look for signs of the beaver's presence
The beaver's practice of building huts and dams can lead to signs of the beaver's presence. One of the most obvious signs is the structure itself which is easy to spot. From the outside, the huts are filled with piles of branches, mud and leaves lying around rivers and lakes. Dams can also be generated from fallen trees, and, like an artificial dam, build up water from one side and make the water flow down the side or through a hole.
- Another sign for an otter is a fallen tree. Trees dropped by beavers leave marks with cone-like ends. Trees that fall due to humans have straight marks like the marks from a saw or an axe.
- If you find a hut or dam built by beavers, look for outdated beaver trails. The beaver may follow the same path to the lodge or dam, leaving a clear imprint on the lodge or dam or its surroundings. This path is a great place to lay your trap.
Part 2 of 3: Laying the Trap
Body Gripping Trap
Step 1. Find a suitable place to trap the beaver
An ideal place to place a trap is in an area where you know beavers will pass. You may need to set a trap where the beaver enters his hut, or perhaps in a narrow, shallow channel near a dam or beaver hut, or in a beaver walkway. Alternatively, you may want to set up your trap for beavers to pass through to eat the bait (usually the smell of castor) that you have laid.
Step 2. Lay the trap flat on the ground
Once placed, the body gripping trap (commonly referred to as a "Conibear") creates a vertical "portal" of boxes. When the beaver goes through this, the edge of the spring will drop, trapping the beaver around its neck and (ideally) killing it quickly. To start making this type of trap, first place it on the ground where you want to place the trap. Don't set this trap and "after that" try to get it to where you want to trap the beaver. These traps can be triggered with just a slight movement and can cause injury to humans.
When you place the trap, look for two at a time on each side of the central "box". If the two springs that look like wings are pointing into the trap, turn the springs out of the trap so that the circular part of each spring is pointing out of the center "box" clamp
Step 3. Press one of the springs
While it's possible to adjust the conibear with just your hands, it's recommended that you use a special pair of metal sticks called "Clamps" or "adjusting tools." This long metal tool allows you to set traps by keeping your hands and fingers apart, to avoid injury. Whether you use these tongs or not, take one spring and push it, aligning the spring with the center of the trap.
- When the spring is pressed, attach the catch. This is usually a small hook already attached to the spring, which keeps the spring in motion as you complete the rest of the steps necessary for setting the trap.
- Warning – once your spring has been pushed in, you must assume that the trap is “live”, as the clamps can clamp with the force of the spring. With or without tongs, be careful when setting traps from this point to the next.
Step 4. Push and “hook” the other one
Although some people use one spring, the most common conibears usually have two springs to make the clamp stronger. If your trap has two springs, push the second spring in as you did the first and close it with the safety latch. When two springs have been pushed, carefully align them to the center of the trap.
Step 5. Rotate the trap vertically with the trigger on the top
Conibears are placed vertically to let beavers walk past them and into traps. Carefully set up your trap so that the two parts of the trap called the “dog” and the “trigger” are on top of the trap.
- The dog is the serrated part that secures the clamp trap when it is placed. Basically, this section holds the trap until it works.
- The trigger is a small part that looks like a beard hair that is used to activate a trap. Beard hair hangs down between the teeth. When the beaver walks in the trap, the trigger is pushed, releasing the "dog" and causing the teeth to swing.
Step 6. Set the dog and trigger
Carefully push the gears of the trap. Set the trigger in the desired notch on the dog, then insert the trap teeth into this notch. Slowly stop pushing the teeth – the dog should gently hold the trap open.
Step 7. Remove the safety latch from the spring
Very carefully, remove each safety latch on the spring and slide it onto the coiled portion of the spring. Your trap is now ready and can be considered dangerous. Do not move or handle it without carefully resetting the safety latch. Do it only when needed.
Step 8. If necessary, use a post for support
Most conibears can be left alone without needing a crutch, but, to secure your trap, you may need to use a crutch. Secure your trap in the circular section of the spring – not the cleat section. Between twisting the wire through each coil and tying the wire to a nearby object or attaching a small strong post to each coil. Do one of these two things “before” you set a trap to reduce the chances of yourself getting hurt.
Footing Trap
Step 1. Find a submerged spot
Stepping traps require the animal to step on it to get trapped – when an animal steps on it, the serrations of the trap close, trapping the animal's feet in the trap. For beavers, it is important that you place the trap under water so that it will drown when trapped, this is because this trap does not kill the animal immediately. If placed on land, the otter will suffer for a long time and may even be killed by coyotes or other small predators because the otter cannot escape.
- Place the footing trap in shallow water at the edge of a lake or river, where the otters play in the water. You must place the trap in shallow water so the otter can step on it, not swim over it. However, it must be deep enough for you to drown the animal. The right depth is usually around 20-25 cm.
- Additionally, since you want the beaver to trigger the trap by stepping on it, place the trap about 15 cm deep at the end of a river or lake. If you place the trap in the middle of a river or lake, the beaver will be able to pass through the trap without stepping on it.
Step 2. Secure the trap chain
Footing traps usually have a short chain attached. This is used to attach it to land or nearby objects – if it is not attached, the trapped and frightened and possibly injured animal will be able to escape with the trap.
For beavers, use a pole to plant the chain underground as far from the trap itself, as far as the chain can reach. Plant the chain “in the water”, not on land. Use a pole that is long, strong, and sturdy. Don't use a pole that the beaver can loosen and make it move inland once it's caught in a footing trap. Poorly positioned poles can allow the beaver to reach a place where it can breathe once it is trapped, prolonging its suffering
Step 3. Push the spring on the trap
There are various variations on step traps, but almost all of them have strong springs attached to levers that are located parallel to the trap teeth. Use the lever to push the spring and open the cleats. Be careful not to let your hand or finger slip between the teeth.
For some types of step traps, you may find it easier to set the trap on land, push the spring by stepping on it, then bend down and take the next steps while still stepping on the spring with your foot
Step 4. Open the cleats wide when you attach your dog
Maintain constant pressure on the trap to prevent it from closing and trapping your own hand or finger. Carefully open the cleats and raise the dog up, hooking the cleats into the notch. Just like conibears, dogs open their teeth, and will release when the animal jumps in the trap.
Step 5. Slowly lift the base
The "base" of a stepping trap is the part of the trap that loops between the teeth. Animals trigger traps by stepping on a pedestal. Use your thumbs to hold the dog and the teeth together. Then, lift your base into position by grabbing the “bottom” of the loose teeth with your fingers and gently lifting the base off. Do not touch the traps or any of the serrations. If you do this and your finger or hand slips, there is a good chance that you will get injured. Now your trap is ready – hold it very carefully.
- Ideally, the base of your trap should be flat inside the trap, not tilted. If you need to rearrange the base, make sure you work it “under the loose serrations” of the trap. Never put your finger between the gears to do a reset.
- Also keep in mind that some types of footing traps can be rearranged between the teeth if you don't push them down by 4-5 kg (ideal weight for a beaver). These stepping traps are designed so that small animals don't get caught in them when they step on the trigger.
The Traps That Keep the Beavers Alive (live traps)
Step 1. Choose a good place
When setting up a live trap, it is important that you choose a trap location that will not harm the animal once it is trapped. For beavers, it is important not to place the trap in the water so that it drowns. Place the trap above the water so the beaver doesn't drown. It is also important not to place the trap in very cold or hot places, to avoid the trapped animal becoming sick or freezing to death.
Keep in mind that there are several variations for the live trap. Generally, live traps are box-like traps made of metal and have doors on both sides. Another type of live trap is a trap shaped like a suitcase. The steps in this guide are steps for traps such as boxes that are made of metal and have doors on both sides
Step 2. Open both sides of the box
Box traps usually have doors that can be locked on both sides. In order to open both doors, sometimes, you need to push the key part into the inside of the box to unlock the door. Then, using one arm on the top of the box to hold it firmly, open the door until it opens horizontally.
Step 3. Set your trap
Unlike the other traps in this article which trap and kill the animal when it escapes unknowingly through it, this trap relies on the animal falling into this trap by itself. Because of this, you need bait to make this trap a success. For beavers, usually the bait that can lure them is something that smells of liquid. Soak a small cloth until there is a liquid smell and hang it in the trap. When the beaver is provoked by the smell, the beaver will step on the trigger and activate the trap, the door will close and trap the beaver inside.
Regarding bait, many hunters use the smell of castor, a branded liquid produced naturally by beavers to mark their territory
Step 4. Secure the door with the dog
As with the other types of traps discussed in this article, most live traps have a dog section that holds the trap door open, and releases when the trigger is stepped on. When you lift the door to its highest position, hook the dog on the door – here, the way this trap works may vary – be careful when removing it. If this is done correctly, the door will remain open, hooked by the dog.
Step 5. If necessary, open both doors
Most live traps are square in shape with a door at each end. You may want to open both doors so the beaver can enter the trap from both sides. However, this may not be necessary depending on where you place the trap. For example, if you set your trap at the end of a lake or river, you might only expect the beaver to approach your trap from the water, so you don't need to open the second door.
Part 3 of 3: Trapping Responsibly
Step 1. Check your traps daily
No matter what type of trap you use, it's important to keep coming back and checking your traps daily. For livetraps, the reason is very clear – beavers are trapped in them and can suffer or starve if they stay in the trap for long. However, you should also frequently check your traps used for killing as well, especially if you are interested in the fur of the beaver. The longer the otter is trapped, the greater the effect of decomposition and the more likely it is that the otter's body is eaten by scavengers.
Additionally, if your killer trap doesn't kill the trapped beaver right away, you'll be able to free the beaver right away or kill him right away so he doesn't suffer any longer
Step 2. Avoid places with lots of pets
Avoid setting killer traps that pets, especially dogs, often pass. Small dogs can be the size of a beaver so they can be caught or killed by a beaver trap. Never place a live trap in a place where pets often pass, because if you trap a pet, it's your responsibility to find and notify the owner who may think the pet has escaped.
In rural areas, many people allow their dogs to walk a few kilometers from their homes. Be careful when you set your traps – careful hunters will not lay their traps a few kilometers from housing in the countryside
Step 3. Set the body gripping trap so that it cannot trap the water dog
Water dogs usually live in the same habitats as otters – areas that contain lakes and rivers. Water dogs can easily trigger body gripping traps intended for beavers. So if you're using a body gripping trap, consider the possibility that a water dog could get caught. Set your trap to hang on the sides of the "box," not in the middle. Water dogs are thinner than beavers, so by doing this you can increase the chances of your water dog passing through without getting hurt but not preventing you from trapping the beaver.
Of course, don't do this when the trap is ready. Do this when you are setting up your trap
Step 4. Pay attention to all laws in your area regarding traps
Although there are several sections that open a whole year's hunting season, that does not mean there are no rules in trapping activities. Many jurisdictions have rules regarding the types of traps you can use, the locations where traps are allowed, the types of tools you can use to trap beavers, etc. If in doubt, double check with your local police before attempting to trap the beaver. The amount of money you spend reviewing hunting laws on websites is a better amount of money than you would have to spend if you broke the law.
