Exclusive to the Pacific Northwest, the mountain beaver resides near water and moist soil. This pest can be active during all hours, though they only feed at night. Mountain beavers tend to be shy and keep to themselves. However, homeowners may notice damage to lawns and plants when the animals decide to move into yards.
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Mountain beavers are small and stocky, ranging between 10 to 14 inches in length and weighing around two pounds. Despite their name, these rodents look more similar to woodchucks than beavers. The mountain beaver has a short and stubby tail, long claws for digging, and dark brown fur with a lighter underbelly.
The most effective method for regulating mountain beavers is trapping. However, these rodents have a keen sense of smell, making them wary of anything humans touch.
Do mountain beavers harm people or property?
While it is rare to see a mountain beaver, their distinctive dens give them away. Points of entry and exit leave large holes in yards, and there can be as many as 10 to 30 entrances per burrow. Collapsed tunnels may create unappealing ruts in the grass or even mudslides and sinkholes in wet areas.
Mountain beavers also feed on plants and seedlings, which causes costly damage to gardens, landscaping, and trees. Bark stripped from trunks and young trees chewed down to the ground may be signs of a problem with these pests.
Are mountain beavers known to enter homes or yards?
Although they do not typically infest human structures, mountain beavers may move into neighborhoods in wooded areas. Damp slopes with plenty of shade are most likely to attract the pests. Lawns with tall grass or debris, like woodpiles and fallen trees, are also susceptible to infestation.
These animals prefer to live in forests with ample brush and ground-level vegetation. The mountain beaver stays underground except when it surfaces to eat, preferring to live in an extensive burrow system full of multiple chambers and exits.
Because of their elusive and solitary nature, mountain beavers can be tough to get rid of without professional help. Consult the experts at Critter Control for a quality inspection, safe removal, and reliable prevention.