apparently, beavers love fresh peas

[starphire]

I just chased a beaver out of the backyard for the second time today.

Does anyone have a live-catch trap that would hold a beaver?

*scratches head wondering what it's doing in this part of Somerville*
The nearest natural waterway is 8 blocks across busy roads.

I mean, I know it's been wet, but...

Comments

Uhhhhhhhh

[catling]

Beavers... in Somerville? That's a new one on me. Good luck with your new furry friend.

Re: Uhhhhhhhh

[starphire]

Yeah, me too. I assumed it was a woodchuck at first - still implausible, but less bizarre. Then I got a good look at the tail. Definitely a beaver tail.

Re: Uhhhhhhhh

[starphire]

Sigh. It's destroyed most of our peas, taken a goodly chunk of bean plants, and wiped out the broccoli, now it's nibbling at the corn.
And that's the *1st* day we noticed it.
cee had a closer encounter after I posted, and it seems it is in fact a woodchuck and I apparently do not understand the significance of beaver&tail.
Wish me luck that a live trap will catch it, before we start scheming more lethal forms of animal control. Grr.

[starphire]

My first thought was actually to grab the camera, but I was torn since it was quickly destroying the peas in the garden - I chose to try to save some peas. Sadly, it was futile.

I wasn't sure if animal control would be willing/able to do anything - I mean, they don't come out to deal with more ordinary urban pests such as raccoon and skunk - they'll tell you to hire a professional if the animal is bothering you. There are plenty of entrepreneurs who'll do it for a fee, but I've heard they're not very ethical about where they'll relocate the animal to - whatever's convenient at the time, apparently.

[beah]

What they said. So weird!

[lyonesse]

i've got a medium-sized live trap at the pond house on the back porch, let me know what dimensions you need?

[starphire]

Ah, well it seems I was mistaken and it was really a woodchuck after all. So...a little smaller than a beaver, I'd guess about 18"long+tail, about 10" diameter+legs?

If your trap would be big enough, and we could borrow it:
Would you happen to be going out to the pond house in the near future?
If not, could I go out and pick it up from there, say, tomorrow evening?

[lyonesse]

elf my elf will try to pick it up tonight :)

[ceo]

The nearest natural waterway is 8 blocks across busy roads.

And I don't think the beaver is going to have much success trying to build a dam on the Mystic River (besides, it already has one).