Return to the Beaver Pond

I appreciate all the views that this video and my original beaver dam video have gotten. The amount of views I have had are truly incredible! As a general practice for my channel I try and respond to every comment I receive. However the volume of comments in this series is eating up a serious amount of my free time. From now on I will still read all comments but I will no longer commit to responding to everything. I will try and respond to legitimate questions or suggestions especially if someone raises a new point. Sorry, I just need to strike the right balance. I also want to say that I appreciate everyone's perspective. But, there is are a small minority of viewers who feel the need to throw insults or threats my way. Believe it or not I have received death threats over putting a few pipes in a beaver dam. If you don't like the content of my channel you don't need to make an insult or threat or even give a thumbs down. If you don't like my channel or any channel just stop watching and look for something that fits your taste. I will continue to leave up negative comments but I will remove anything that is insulting or threatening. These comments are routinely deleted and reported to YouTube as abusive. I choose to be a content creator and put myself 'out there' if you don't like my work you can vote with your feet and simply not watch. I will continue to do what I feel is best for my land and family and will continue to make the videos I want to make. If you are with me in that, then great! if you have a legit criticism, that is fine too, please express yourself. Know that I draw the line at abuse and it won't be tolerated. My skin is much thicker than 'Troll Skin'! Kevin Outdoors

As a former habitat biologist that spent my career protecting floodplain habitat I applaud your approach. The remaining pond is good for you and the beavers. And you are leaving the area around the pond for wildlife. I hope you will continue to leave the area as wild as possible for all the living things to enjoy. Well done!

I’m a beaver and I’ve gotta say this was a nice compromise in order to co exist. I’m still going to clog the pipes though.

You've mentioned a lot of good points with regards to beavers. Beavers dig canals and use them like underwater roadways as an effective way to drag their branches. They also dig right up to trees for easy access to their food. These underwater paths make things easier for them and in some cases protect them from predators. Beaver ponds are eco-systems. When a pond/wetland is created (by diverting water with their dams) it feeds an entire community including birds of all kinds, frogs, squirrels, fish, deer, moose and more. For every gallon of water that beavers store in their ponds, they're capturing approx. 5 - 10 gallons more underground (that is pushed down by the weight of the pond) which ultimately recharges the aquifer. This can be incredibly helpful for farmers, especially during droughts, when water sources are scarce for their animals. Try not to feel bad about those downed trees. Rotting vegetation like that is very helpful in adding nutrients to the soil. Despite wetlands looking "messy," they're extremely functional and can filter and purify water. The whole notion behind a beaver's behavior is to "slow down water" by damming it so that it can be used effectively rather than being allowed to dry up and evaporate.

Its great you found a way to live with the beavers. A lot of people would have solved the problem with traps and dynamite. Nice one Kevin! Wade

No beavers were harmed in the making of this video... only out smarted.

Just because somebody in California doesn’t like what you do in your back yard, does not make what you do wrong.

As someone who simply stumbled across the 2 videos on the subject I can say from a third party animal lover and logical thinker point of view that this is by far the best way of dealing with beavers I have come across, not only have you kept your property from being damaged you did it in a way that allowed the beavers to continue their work just in a limited copasity, brilliant. Too many times I have seen these videos go the way of explosives or heavy equipment and this was a lovely change so you did a wonderful thing so don't give any concern to those down voting your videos. You found a elegantly simple way to live with nature rather than destroying it or letting it completely overrun you, great job.

What a cool look at natural succession taking place after draining the dam. Looks like you may have restored a lot of the original wetland habitat. Thanks for documenting this! Very interesting to see!

I very much appreciate your approach to this. It does seem like you definitely took nature into account and didn't take the easy route which would be to probably just shoot the beavers. And I like how you point out all of the benefits to a beaver pond. Good onya mate!

You are on beautiful land and you seem to be a good steward of that land. I'm glad your pipes worked. Best to you.

So! You're the one!! - the Beavers

Thanks for the follow up. I was interested when you put the pipes in if the beavers would successfully clog them. I can't believe how smart their attempts were! Glad it worked out and that's a beautiful piece of property you got there! I'm looking myself.

like you said, it's all about balance. when you live in such a rural area, you need to take precautions for your own house/land/property! you've done a great job balancing the problem, keeping the wildlife intact without killing anything and also reducing the risk of your own property! KUDOS to you sir! keep it up!

Finally, a video where the landowner doesn't feel the need to kill off, natures brilliant engineers, of ecosystems. Kudos, to you, sir.

This should be a series in which you revisit every time you do something with the dam. Love your friendly approach with dealing with the beavers. The entire family gets excited every time you post your beaver dam videos.

Those beavers are persistent! Next, they’ll try glueing a cap on the ends of those pvc pipes.

Beaver Wars, The Beaver Strikes back, Return of the Beaver

Beavers are the best engineers ever! Well done to you for outsmarting them without harming them, much respect!

I love how you have found a way for your land, your wildlife and your family to all live together. Nice going.