Re: Big Beavers

Kathy Seibolt (bordrcrk@gte.net)
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 09:13:00 -0500

Teddy noted that:
>
> When I built my barn I used all rough cut oak...the barn is now 8 years old
> and not a tooth mark on it. Hardwoods make it tough on beaver teeth.

We have experienced the same thing. They don't touch the oak, but we
have a few temporary pine boards in place and they chew those like
crazy!

>But, if your barn is built and you have pine..may not like the idea but paint
>it with motor oil or Creo-Tech (like Creosote)...black, sticky and not
>agreeable to beavers. I have it on my fences...NO beaver marks!!!

We have also had similar success with these products. We used them on
the Cedar and Dogwood trees. We also had an episode of the horses
eating the bark off the Poplar Trees. A friend said that the University
of Tennessee looked into the problem and determined that it was caused
by a mineral deficiency. Adding a mineral supplement to his horses'
feed cured the problem. So, maybe you can be sure they have adequate
free coice mineral blocks/ or loose.

Good luck, and congratulations on your new barn!!

Kathy