Live-Trapping Beavers with the Methow Beaver Project

[@JamesComstockCages]

Another less expensive trap that is also more user friendly, less dangerous, is the Comstock swim through live trap, very versatile. Can be used in water or on land. We have taken 1928 beaver in them in 13 years. Lots of Washington trappers are using them.

[@kentjones9862]

Really enjoyed your video! I parallel your efforts of promoting the catch and relocate concepts. Being a 35 year outdoor videographer/producer in Arkansas, I've enjoyed having worked with numerous biologists in there daily careers. Around the world, in Africa too, but somehow, I've never filmed beaver projects! If you get to our neck of the woods in northern Arkansas and need a cameraman/producer, "I'm down" lol

[@terredee]

QUESTIONS: 1. I've read that a high percentage of relocated beavers do not survive the trapping and transport. What is the rate of survival for trapped/relocated beavers? 2. What about the rest of the family? Beavers are very family-oriented. A beaver pair is monogamous for life, and have babies every year and two-year old kids still living in the lodge. Are you trapping everyone in the family or just taking the "territorial male" away from his family? If so, what happens to the rest of his family? 3. Do you check the traps every single morning, or do you have wildlife cams on each trap to make sure noone is stuck in the trap for days, possibly injured? Thank you for your answers. I'm working with a California beaver group looking into changing the law that allows the killing of beavers but not relocation. The reported high death rate of trapped/relocated beavers is very concerning. And I've never seen anything about what happens to the trapped beavers' families.

[@khills1181]

If you relocate a beaver to another area, the beavers already there will kill it because it is not from their "family". To them it is an intruder. It's better to harvest it for fur and/or meat. I've never tried it but they say beaver meat is up there with venison.

[@JamesComstockCages]

Lots of them do just fine. We used to snare and release.

[@Joannsaudia]

Where are you guys located

[@michaelmorris2601]

love the video

[@larry8651]

I hate to see people kill such an intelligent animal

[@chrisy.7871]

You obviously don't have them on your property flooding your driveway and causing it to collapse costing thousands of dollars ever year, either. Do you? LOL

[@Alternate_Titles]

They are absolutely delicious and their hides are worth their weight in gold for an outdoorsman.