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To many, this picturesque town
appears a rural idyll.
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A living evocation
of the American frontier spirit.
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00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,840
But it's also a town under siege.
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00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,280
Unseen, operating largely at night,
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00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,720
an interloper from the wild
is creating havoc.
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00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,280
It is a conflict
between nature and civilisation.
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I planted this tree,
I loved this tree, it was beautiful,
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it had really pretty flowers
in the springtime.
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Busy beaver. Yeah, he sure is.
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00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,240
WOOD CRACKS
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The culprit is...
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00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:33,560
the beaver.
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00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,840
They can create quite a bit
of damage, one way or another.
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00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,920
Whether felling trees...
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..or damming up waterways,
they cause chaos.
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00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,840
It took one or two nights,
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00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,040
and everything was almost wiped out.
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00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,280
When that happens,
tempers get frayed.
GUN IS COCKED
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00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,040
I think a lot of people shoot them.
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00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:07,160
GUNSHOT
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And there seems no end in sight.
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It's become an issue because
we never had a way of remedying that
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without either removing them or...
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00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:19,320
killing them.
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00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,320
With humans and beavers
living in such close proximity,
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00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,520
is there no answer to...
27
00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,960
beavers behaving badly?
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00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,120
We'll be back, and we'll just
keep spinning our wheels
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00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,480
until there can be
a final resolution.
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00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,960
George Richert
for the Ten O'Clock News.
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00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,080
BIRDS TWEET
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The magnificent Teton Mountains
in Wyoming
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00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,920
overlook one of America's great
wilderness treasure troves...
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00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,960
..the Grand Teton National Park.
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00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:33,480
With spring around the corner,
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00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,680
soon it'll be thronging
with tourists...
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..enticed by the stunning scenery,
and tantalised by the prospect
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of a close encounter with some
of America's most iconic species.
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00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,080
But with winter's
icy grip still evident,
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00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,280
the Park remains
the preserve of its wildlife.
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00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,840
And the thaw cues
the appearance...
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..of beavers.
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00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,840
These aquatic rodent rascals
have spent the long winter months
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00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:41,960
holed up inside their lodges.
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00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,200
Only slipping out
to retrieve branches
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00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,800
and twigs from their
underwater food caches.
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00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:00,960
With supplies almost at an end,
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00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,960
they take the opportunity to pilfer
fresh shoots and branches.
49
00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,840
But even now the clock is ticking.
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00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,760
Soon, young adults will be
run out of the lodge
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00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,800
to make their own way in the world.
52
00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,280
They'll have just six months
to find a mate,
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00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:27,320
establish their own homes,
and build a food supply big enough
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00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,520
to sustain them
through Wyoming's long, cold winter.
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00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,520
Fortunately, for these beavers,
just a few miles downstream,
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00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,680
is a ready supply
of well-established trees and
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00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:52,520
unoccupied ponds, just waiting to be
colonised by an enterprising animal.
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It's called Jackson Hole.
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00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:23,200
The problem is Jackson Hole's
existing residents aren't
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00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:27,840
necessarily keen on sharing space
with these furry invaders.
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00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:30,800
Beavers can do an awful lot of damage
very quickly.
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00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,000
It's amazing
what they can do in one night.
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00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,760
In financial terms, I think
the beavers are costing me
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00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,520
between 8,000 to 10,000.
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00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,160
We've either got to figure out how
to live with them, or we need to...
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00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:44,480
..exterminate them.
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00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,280
The town revels
in its Wild West heritage
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00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:56,880
and given it was named after
a 19th century beaver trapper,
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00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:01,360
you might imagine the response to an
invasion of troublesome beavers
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00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,640
would be a run on ammunition
in the local gun store.
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00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,440
GUN IS COCKED
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00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,720
Well, not exactly.
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00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,200
GUN IS UNCOCKED
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00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:18,680
Jackson boasts
its own beaver buster, Drew Reid.
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00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:28,280
Like a Wild West sheriff,
Drew is tasked with sorting out
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00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,840
any conflict
between humans and beavers.
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00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:42,120
People start noticing damage
when things start falling out here,
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00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,520
the beavers start getting
a little more active
79
00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,880
and they don't want it
to get out of hand.
80
00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,920
So that's when I come in
and try to help them out.
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00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,880
One of the worst cases
of beaver damage I've ever seen was
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00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,280
a property that had been unattended
for a couple of weeks,
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00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,120
and when I showed up to take
a look at the damage,
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00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,080
there were approximately 50
very large trees down.
85
00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,000
It was basically beaver Armageddon.
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00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,160
Drew's usual solution is
to humanely trap problem beavers
87
00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,640
before relocating them
to wilderness areas around Jackson.
88
00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,000
And with spring knocking
on his door...
89
00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,920
..he's getting ready
for the phone to start ringing.
90
00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,800
So, this is where my traps
have been sitting all winter
91
00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,480
to stay away from other scents
that can get on
92
00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,600
and cause some issues
when we're trapping.
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00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,160
These are kind of my designated
beaver gloves, if you will,
94
00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,520
and we try to remember
to wear our gloves every time
95
00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,880
so we don't get our own
scent on here.
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It may not be that big of an issue,
but we just don't take any chances.
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00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:51,120
Before going on duty, Drew
likes to make sure his equipment
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is in proper working order.
99
00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,680
Let's get this thing set.
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00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:59,360
Known as suitcase traps,
these devices snap closed
101
00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,160
around the beaver,
encasing it in a steel mesh cage.
102
00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,520
But if the springs are rusty or
the trigger catches, the trap could
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00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,680
malfunction, potentially injuring
the beaver or allowing it to escape.
104
00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:16,480
Let's test this guy out,
105
00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,960
make sure it's strong enough
to work for us this year.
106
00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,360
I like that, that's strong enough.
107
00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,320
A lot of people comment
on how violent these traps are,
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00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,440
but it's better
than a bullet in the head.
109
00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,920
Drew isn't the only person
in Jackson whose workload
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00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,360
is altered
by the beaver's emergence.
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00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:49,040
Wildlife cameraman Jeff Hogan has
been filming beavers for 30 years.
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00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,560
And the spring thaw is his cue
to check up on some old friends.
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This is one of my favourite
beaver ponds. It's really old.
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00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,480
It's just this giant lodge
down there, under the pond,
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00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:08,920
a beautiful big dam
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00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,640
that makes a beautiful big pond
that runs off to the North.
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00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:17,760
The Tetons make up
a wonderful backdrop,
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00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,000
and the light here
is just stunning in the evening.
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00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,880
This dam is the sexiest dam
out of the lot.
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00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,480
My favourite angle, you know,
is to shoot nice and low
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00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,680
so that you're eye-to-eye
to the beaver.
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It's a wonderful perspective.
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00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,520
Like most cameramen, Jeff knows that
filming wildlife is a waiting game.
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00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,880
We've got a beaver right over here.
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00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,440
He's just surfaced.
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00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,240
Oh, wow! There you go.
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00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,320
They're the largest rodents
in North America.
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00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,680
But, even so, they're shy,
wary creatures that like to
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stick to the protective environment
of their pond.
130
00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,240
They generally don't come out
until just before dusk.
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00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:28,160
And it's only once
night has fallen...
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BEAVER MUNCHES ON TREE
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..that they really get to work.
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00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,080
They slip back
to the lodge around dawn.
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00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,280
So, often the only visible sign
of a beaver's presence...
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00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,440
..is the clues it leaves behind.
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00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,480
But there's always the exception.
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00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:03,840
It's midday.
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00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,840
Drew's been called out
by a caretaker who's concerned
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00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,000
about the sudden appearance of
a beaver on one of his properties.
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00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,240
Looks like me in the morning. Yeah!
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THEY LAUGH
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00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:23,440
The property is surrounded with
young aspen and cottonwood trees.
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00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,680
It's all very tempting for beavers,
given they survive almost
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exclusively on a diet of twigs,
leaves, and tree bark.
146
00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,120
You know, they've been relying
on their food caches
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00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,880
all winter long, chewing on old bark,
and this fresh vegetation,
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probably like candy to these guys.
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00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,960
The landowner has wrapped
a lot of his trees to protect them.
150
00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,360
But even that won't put off
a really determined rodent.
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00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,680
They damage the landscaping,
they kill a lot of trees,
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00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:02,120
they plug up the outlets
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so that the water level comes up
and floods the yard.
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The last batch of beavers
we had in this pond probably
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did 10,000 damage overnight.
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00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,400
I think I'll go ahead and set
most of these traps on this pond.
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00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,320
Most homeowners want
any interloping beavers trapped
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and relocated as soon as possible.
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00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,160
Especially
if they're as brazen as this one.
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I've never seen one
quite that indifferent before.
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To increase the chances
of a successful capture,
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Drew camouflages the trap...
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00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,080
He's watching me right now do this.
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00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:08,000
..before baiting it
with a scent lure.
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00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,400
The lure is designed to draw the
target in through sheer curiosity.
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It mimics the smell
another beaver would make
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00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:18,800
when marking its territory with...
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00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,160
..a urine-based paste.
169
00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,080
How vile does that stuff smell?
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HE SNIFFS
Mm.
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00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,360
It's not too bad.
No. But it's pungent.
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I love the smell of this stuff.
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00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,320
Whether the lure will work
with this beaver
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is another matter altogether.
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00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,760
Exposing itself like this
in the middle of the day
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is distinctly
un-beaver-like behaviour.
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Did you train this beaver?
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Yes, my radio-controlled beaver.
I got it here for you.
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LAUGHTER
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00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,800
A second trap should increase
Drew's chances of a capture.
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00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,640
Although this beaver
appears underwhelmed.
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00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:07,400
This might be his way of saying,
"Yeah, right(!) Nice traps."
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00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,360
"I've seen those before!"
Yeah, exactly!
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00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,520
Sure you want to move him?
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00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:19,960
See you in the morning, beave.
186
00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,840
Adult beavers
are very difficult to age
187
00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:30,840
and almost impossible to sex
without a very intimate examination.
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00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,760
But the chances are
this is a two-year-old adult,
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00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,360
the age at which beavers are
usually pushed out of the lodge.
190
00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,840
Beavers are monogamous
and breed during the winter.
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00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,920
Let's face it, locked in by the ice
for months on end,
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00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:57,600
there's not much else to do.
193
00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:04,400
They'll typically have a litter
of two to four kits in the spring.
194
00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,200
Initially, these kits will live
off their mother's milk,
195
00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,240
and they'll start swimming
after a few days.
196
00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:11,800
Then, after about a month,
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00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,640
they'll be weaned
onto a diet of twigs and leaves.
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00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:17,120
Lucky them.
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00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,400
Their fur isn't waterproof
initially, but that all changes
200
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:28,520
thanks to continual massaging
with...bodily secretions.
201
00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,320
This tireless grooming
also helps maintain
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00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,480
an additional waterproofing layer
of air within their fur.
203
00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,520
After two years, during which time
204
00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,520
a couple more litters may have
swelled the growing family,
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00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,480
it'll be "heigh-ho and off you go"
for these adolescent beavers
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00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,400
as they get shoved out of the lodge
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00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,760
to make way
for their younger siblings.
208
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,880
Using streams, rivers and waterways,
these young adults,
209
00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,800
known as dispersers or...
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00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,560
floaters,
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00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,680
may travel several miles
in search of a mate
212
00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,320
and an unoccupied waterway
in which to set up home.
213
00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,280
It's often these renegade rodents
214
00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,320
that Drew is called out to deal with
in the spring.
215
00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:38,160
He's returned to find out if he's
caught the remote-controlled beaver.
216
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:40,640
Uh...
217
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,480
Oh, you gotta be kidding me!
218
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,960
Well, trap's empty. It's not good.
219
00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:52,880
There's going to be times where I
don't capture beavers. I'm not 100%.
220
00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,080
You know, they're just...
sometimes better than I am.
221
00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,080
There are no fresh signs of damage,
222
00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,960
so it looks like the beaver
was just casing the joint
223
00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:05,800
rather than actually moving in.
224
00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:08,960
Skunked again.
225
00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,040
Gotta love springtime trapping...
226
00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,960
With several other calls
to respond to,
227
00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,520
Drew decides not to leave
the traps in place any longer.
228
00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,800
Ah, I'll be able to put these traps
to use somewhere else, anyways.
229
00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:31,800
'The beavers plug the culverts
and create flooding problems.'
230
00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,880
We were gone for a couple of days
and came back.
231
00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,160
And I left my flower garden.
It was flooded.
232
00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,720
It was almost up to my knees, and...
233
00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,920
..needless to say,
that was a major inconvenience,
234
00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,720
and the flowers are suffering.
235
00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,440
Drew's been called out
by another caretaker,
236
00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,600
who's chanced upon
some incriminating evidence.
237
00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:10,720
Chewed-on branches right there
in the water. It's pretty typical.
238
00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,600
Beavers will often turn
a shallow cove like this
239
00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:15,840
into a makeshift restaurant,
240
00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,600
pulling branches into the water,
where they can safely eat the bark.
241
00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,280
Any tree in the vicinity
is easy pickings...
242
00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,600
..and the culprit here appears to
have been particularly determined.
243
00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:34,160
I honestly have never seen a beaver
chewing through netting like this.
244
00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,280
The branches aren't just used
as a food supply.
245
00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,160
They get recycled
as building materials.
246
00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,880
Not a trick you can play
with hamburgers.
247
00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,880
So, where's the activity at?
248
00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,160
And it's the sudden appearance
of a lodge
249
00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,960
that alerted this caretaker
to his new arrivals.
250
00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:03,120
So, this is quite a bit bigger
than it was last time I was here.
251
00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,400
All these branches
on top of that mud are new,
252
00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:10,960
and all this debris
here in the water is new.
253
00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:12,720
OK.
254
00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,720
So far, the damage is fairly minor,
255
00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,520
but if the beavers build a dam
on the pond outlet,
256
00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,920
the rising water level
could easily flood the house,
257
00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:25,680
which is worth
several million dollars.
258
00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,200
What was that?
259
00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,960
There he goes, right there.
Check it out.
260
00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,200
That's him swimming right over there.
261
00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:37,720
Well, it's proof positive!
262
00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,160
THEY LAUGH
263
00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,320
Saying hello!
264
00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,840
Right, I've seen what I need to see.
Let's go get the traps. All right.
265
00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,080
A second beaver appears
while Drew's back is turned.
266
00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,000
So it's a good job
he's brought two traps.
267
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,320
The beavers are probably
unable to make out the traps,
268
00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,920
as their sight is relatively poor.
269
00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,000
But their sense of smell
is excellent,
270
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,920
and their noses are clearly telling
them that Drew represents a threat.
271
00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,080
A violent slap of the tail is
a beaver's main defence mechanism,
272
00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:27,200
a way of telling an intruder,
human or otherwise, to back off.
273
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:33,600
DREW LAUGHS
274
00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,760
OK, that trap's hot.
275
00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:46,800
With two traps set, Drew is happy
to leave the beavers to it.
276
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:49,360
If everything goes to plan,
277
00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:51,560
they'll be in custody
by the morning.
278
00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,080
Good luck, beave.
279
00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,120
BIRDSONG
280
00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,720
Uh-oh.
281
00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,080
We've got one.
282
00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:16,880
Good. First one of the season.
283
00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:19,880
Unfortunately, it looks like
284
00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,480
the second beaver has evaded
the long arm of the law.
285
00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,960
Bummer we didn't get the other one.
But we'll get it.
286
00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,440
The chances of a successful
relocation will be improved
287
00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:35,240
if Drew can catch both beavers
and then release the pair together.
288
00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:37,600
OK...
289
00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,400
So he leaves a couple of traps
in place
290
00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,480
before escorting the first beaver
from the premises.
291
00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,880
TV REPORT: Nature appears to have
the upper hand
292
00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:54,400
since animal-cruelty complaints
293
00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,440
stopped the practice
of drowning the beavers.
294
00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:57,600
News 4's George Richert
295
00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,400
reports that the industrious
rodents are as busy as ever.
296
00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,480
Beavers are prolific builders,
297
00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,360
chewing down and dragging whatever
trees they can to build a dam.
298
00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,400
While he's waiting to see if
his traps snare the second beaver,
299
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:17,320
Drew's keeping the first one
in a temporary holding facility.
300
00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:18,920
We've got a 39-pound beaver,
301
00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,520
which technically -
and it is just an estimate -
302
00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,360
is a three-year-old beaver.
303
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:26,800
The beaver is ear-tagged.
304
00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,360
Got it. Perfect.
305
00:23:30,360 --> 00:23:32,040
If Drew finds it in the wild,
306
00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,760
he'll be able to judge
how far it's travelled.
307
00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,760
And if it's re-caught, he'll be able
to clock it as a repeat offender.
308
00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,440
Put you away,
hopefully for just the night.
309
00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:50,920
See you in the morning!
310
00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,080
Drew's thoughts
turn to beaver number two.
311
00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:03,520
But, despite leaving his traps out
for several nights...
312
00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:07,960
..he draws a blank.
313
00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,440
It doesn't look like
we got the other one.
314
00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,280
Struck out.
315
00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,520
It looks like it's moved on.
316
00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:24,280
Beavers will travel miles
in search of a suitable pond,
317
00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,360
so Drew's chances of capturing it
now are effectively nil.
318
00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,680
Well, it's aggravating as hell
not to catch the second beaver.
319
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,480
The other beaver has been
in the trailer for three days now,
320
00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,400
so I'm going to have to go release
that particular beaver.
321
00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:41,720
'I just can't hold it any longer.'
322
00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,440
With the detainee safely
transferred to a...beaver box...
323
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,280
..Drew takes it to a release point
well away from town.
324
00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,080
OK, let's get this beaver
out of here.
325
00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:11,360
You're fine. Yeah, there you go.
326
00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:20,840
There you go, buddy.
327
00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:22,360
HE CHUCKLES
328
00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,440
Hopefully, the beaver will find
another mate
329
00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,120
and a good spot
in which to establish a new home.
330
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,640
So, this is the first beaver
of the season.
331
00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:41,360
Mostly likely there's going to be 30,
maybe 40 more of these to go.
332
00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:44,240
Hopefully, the vast majority of them
do good things and...
333
00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:47,720
..I don't have to capture them again!
334
00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:56,400
Beavers are a keystone species,
and as long as they're in the wild,
335
00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,880
the ponds they create
benefit a huge range of wildlife...
336
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,400
..which is why Drew's employers,
the Wyoming Wetlands Society,
337
00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,560
started the relocation programme
in the first place.
338
00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:16,560
Well, the beaver relocation programme
is kind of a win-win situation.
339
00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:20,840
We're taking an animal
that could potentially be killed
340
00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:24,680
just because
it's just doing its own thing.
341
00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:31,760
And you're moving it to an area
that it can do some really good work.
342
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,760
It's thought that 80%
of the local wildlife
343
00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,800
benefit from wetlands
in some form or fashion.
344
00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:58,840
At one time, beavers were widespread
throughout the USA.
345
00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,960
But the European fashion
for felt hats
346
00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,240
meant that fur trappers
decimated their populations
347
00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:09,400
in the 18th and 19th centuries.
348
00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,920
It was only after a series
of reintroduction programmes
349
00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:16,000
were carried out in the last century
350
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,840
that beavers
became widespread again,
351
00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,120
inevitably bringing them
into conflict
352
00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:23,520
with another expanding population...
353
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,720
..humans.
354
00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:32,360
I understand their necessity
in the ecosystem.
355
00:27:32,360 --> 00:27:38,040
I just wish they would do what they
like to do on someone else's land.
356
00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,320
You know, I'm not at all opposed
357
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,400
to trapping a beaver
and using its pelt.
358
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,080
My wife has a nice, wonderful
beaver vest with a bobcat fringe.
359
00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:48,840
You know?
360
00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,920
Oh, this is nice.
Yeah, this is real nice.
361
00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:04,480
Jeff has found a new spot
for filming wildlife.
362
00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,680
Oh, very nice, very nice.
363
00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:14,640
Well, this is lovely.
364
00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:22,120
It's a hotel and cabin complex
close to the centre of Jackson.
365
00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:29,040
With a stream running through the
grounds, it's a haven for wildlife.
366
00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:35,480
And Jeff's been tipped off about
one particular pair of new arrivals.
367
00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,240
Oh! Wow, there you go!
368
00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,520
This is great!
369
00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,480
Now, these beavers are just
swimming in and out through here.
370
00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:56,880
There's over 100 cabins here,
371
00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:58,920
and they've just made this place
their home.
372
00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:02,080
I never would have expected it.
It's just absolutely amazing.
373
00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,440
The attraction for the beavers
is obvious.
374
00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,640
There's fresh food on hand...
375
00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,320
the perfect spot to start a lodge...
376
00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,120
a creek providing access
to additional supplies,
377
00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,440
and the presence of people
will ensure
378
00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,520
there are no natural predators
sniffing around
379
00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,280
looking for an easy kill.
380
00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,000
So, this has been
a very successful night.
381
00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,120
We've seen two beavers.
382
00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,240
And I will keep checking in
on this place
383
00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:42,960
and just see how it progresses.
384
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,480
A little warning.
385
00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,920
It seems the beavers haven't proved
popular with everybody.
386
00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,080
Basically, the decision was made
387
00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,840
by the landowner
and some of the neighbours that...
388
00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,720
the beavers had to go, so...
389
00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,840
hopefully we can help them out there
and help the beavers out.
390
00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:08,480
OK, the trap's hot.
391
00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:11,520
Thanks to Jeff's diligence,
392
00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,280
Drew knows there are
two beavers living here.
393
00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,800
So he's brought his 'n' hers traps.
394
00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:20,920
Come back tomorrow
and see what we got.
395
00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:22,920
He may not have to wait that long.
396
00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,080
Keep an eye on the trap.
He's going to the trap.
397
00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,920
Maybe it's his aftershave,
398
00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,280
but once again he's tricked
a beaver into breaking cover.
399
00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:38,320
Come on, get on there...
400
00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:42,040
Come on.
401
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:46,720
We got ya!
402
00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,960
Look at that!
HE CHUCKLES
403
00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:51,560
Welcome to Jackson.
404
00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:54,680
Hey...!
405
00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:57,880
As Drew knows only too well,
406
00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,080
there's nothing better than catching
a beaver at the end of the day...
407
00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:03,760
Don't you bite my leg!
408
00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:09,040
..unless it's waking up
to another one the next morning.
409
00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:11,640
Let's see what we got here,
if we got anything.
410
00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,360
Yeah, yeah!
411
00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,280
We got ya!
412
00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,200
You're fine.
413
00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,160
You're fine.
414
00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:26,720
You're all right.
415
00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:32,320
This makes me happy. I didn't want
to break up another happy home.
416
00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:38,200
It's not just a case
of playing happy families.
417
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:39,920
Releasing the beavers as a pair
418
00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:43,160
means they'll double
both their food-finding capacity
419
00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,760
and their labour force when it comes
to establishing a new home...
420
00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,080
That's good.
421
00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,840
Key factors which could ensure
a successful relocation.
422
00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,600
On to the next pair.
423
00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,760
If we didn't have
somebody like Drew around,
424
00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,520
it'd be a real big problem here.
425
00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,000
Having to come out here
two or three times a week,
426
00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:04,720
pull sticks out of the culvert
427
00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:06,160
interrupts my day,
428
00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:08,560
then I either got to come out here
at night after work
429
00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,200
or first thing in the morning,
430
00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:14,160
and then, if I leave for a weekend,
I might come back to a big mess.
431
00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:29,800
It's summer, and tourists are
flocking into town,
432
00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:35,840
keen to enjoy a Wild West experience
and the chance to view the wildlife.
433
00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:50,720
Even the humble beaver
gets its own summer fan club.
434
00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:52,320
CAMERAS CLICK
435
00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,240
But for most beavers, there's
no time to bask in the limelight.
436
00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:08,840
For these relentless rodents,
437
00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:12,240
spring and summer is
prime dam-building time...
438
00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:19,240
..when old dams are patched up
after early-season floods
439
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,440
and fresh ones are built
to establish new ponds.
440
00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,400
Their dams can extend
remarkable distances.
441
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,800
In fact, the largest known one,
in Alberta, Canada,
442
00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:40,520
is over half a mile long.
443
00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:49,720
These huge structures are created
thanks to a mixture of tireless work
444
00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:53,280
and the beavers' amazing
evolutionary adaptations.
445
00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:01,320
Their front paws are dextrous enough
to manoeuvre branches into place.
446
00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,840
And they can walk
on their back feet,
447
00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:10,960
freeing up their front paws
to carry mud up to the dam...
448
00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,800
..before stuffing it in
to make the construction watertight.
449
00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:26,120
With webbed rear feet and
a powerful flipper-shaped tail...
450
00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,440
..they're agile swimmers,
451
00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:34,160
capable of shuttling back and forth
with the minimum of effort.
452
00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,680
And exceeding the best human divers,
453
00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:54,760
they can hold their breath
for up to 15 minutes...
454
00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:59,280
..plenty of time to excavate mud
from the bottom of the pond.
455
00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:11,800
This mud fest is
a win-win for the beavers.
456
00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:14,800
As well as supplying valuable
building materials,
457
00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,360
all that digging
makes the pond deeper,
458
00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,480
making it less likely
to freeze solid during winter.
459
00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,680
Once the dam is finished,
the area behind it floods,
460
00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:33,200
and the beavers can just swim up to
fresh supplies of trees and bushes.
461
00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:42,560
Although they will travel
across land,
462
00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:44,840
beavers know
there's much less chance
463
00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:48,760
of being jumped by a bear or a wolf
if they stick to the water.
464
00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:53,040
And by cunningly digging
canals and channels,
465
00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:56,720
they can extend the pond
to reach any choice specimens.
466
00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,200
Big trees
make such tempting targets,
467
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:15,440
because as far as
a beaver's concerned,
468
00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,240
all those branches and twigs
469
00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:20,920
make them a supermarket and
building merchant's rolled into one.
470
00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,040
And their incredibly strong
jaw muscles,
471
00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:26,920
combined with sharp,
enamelled incisors,
472
00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:30,040
mean no tree is safe
from their felling felony.
473
00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:37,720
With their lives dependent on
these acts of arboreal anarchy,
474
00:36:37,720 --> 00:36:40,120
it's no surprise
that a single beaver
475
00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:43,680
can fell more than 200
trees a year...
476
00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:06,600
..which is why Jackson residents
call in Drew
477
00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:08,480
at the first sign of trouble.
478
00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:17,040
We got a lot of activity
just right here. Right, right.
479
00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:20,240
Oh, he's taken a tree down right
here. Oh, there's two trees.
480
00:37:20,240 --> 00:37:23,200
Oh, yeah. That tree right there.
481
00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:25,800
You know, if you look
over towards that house, Jeff,
482
00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,680
there's some prize aspens over there
really close to the house.
483
00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:31,760
They want the beavers gone.
484
00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:34,800
Drew's hoping Jeff's
specialist surveillance skills
485
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:39,640
will help determine how many beavers
are responsible for the damage.
486
00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:41,200
Oh, oh, beaver.
487
00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:49,320
See that? Now, here he goes, scent
marking. Keep it down, keep it down.
488
00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,160
It might be a reaction
to Drew and Jeff's arrival,
489
00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:58,440
but by smearing its own unique
urine-based paste
490
00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:00,760
over a specially constructed mound,
491
00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:03,520
this beaver is making
a clear statement.
492
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:08,360
He's saying,
"This is my pond. Period."
493
00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:18,720
It's not just marking out
its territory.
494
00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:22,520
This beaver has been busy
in other ways, too.
495
00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:24,800
He's got quite a bit of food
stashed over there.
496
00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:29,040
These aren't just
preparations for winter.
497
00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:32,160
If this beaver is single,
498
00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:35,880
a well-appointed pond
might help attract a mate.
499
00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:39,600
He's found himself
a wonderful place to live...
500
00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:40,840
as far as he's concerned.
501
00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:44,320
I was about to say,
he's going to get evicted soon.
502
00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:53,280
Any eviction will depend
on trapping the beaver,
503
00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,880
and Drew is relying
on his scent lure to work its magic.
504
00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:00,560
OK, it's hot.
505
00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:06,240
So far, Drew's lure
doesn't seem to be working.
506
00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,840
I think he's literally
munching on the lawn.
507
00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,360
I've never seen a beaver
grazing like that.
508
00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:20,400
Starter over, it's time to think
about the main course.
509
00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:24,360
Oh, he's thinking about that tree,
though, man. Uh-oh.
510
00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:25,840
Sneaky little bugger!
511
00:39:30,240 --> 00:39:32,720
Perhaps it's got
a whiff of the lure...
512
00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:39,320
..but something has distracted the
beaver's attention from its stomach.
513
00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:41,640
Back to the water.
514
00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:44,920
Yeah, let's get this done quick.
That beaver wants back over here.
515
00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:53,000
Let's get out of here.
516
00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:55,480
Good luck, beave.
517
00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:57,920
With so many large trees at risk,
518
00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:00,640
Drew knows his traps
are all that stand
519
00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:04,000
between the property
and another beaver Armageddon.
520
00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:14,480
Ah, we got him, we got him, man.
521
00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:18,320
Oh! Smaller than I thought.
522
00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:21,320
DREW CHUCKLES
It IS smaller!
523
00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:24,000
Let's get this guy out of here.
524
00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:26,440
Say goodbye to
your first home, buddy.
525
00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:43,640
Drew is taking this beaver
over 40 miles away,
526
00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,080
way out into the
Bridger-Teton National Forest.
527
00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:54,000
It's an area that's home
to deer, elk and even cougars,
528
00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,640
all species that will benefit
from a beaver creating new wetlands.
529
00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:02,800
See ya, buddy.
530
00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:07,000
Off he goes,
into this new home territory.
531
00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:11,080
You can get into all the trouble you
want up here. Just stay out of town.
532
00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,720
So far, it's been
a relatively slow year for Drew.
533
00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:20,240
But as summer rolls on...
534
00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:24,360
Sounds good!
HE LAUGHS
535
00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:26,520
..the calls start flooding in.
536
00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:30,280
There you go.
537
00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:45,080
And Drew knows
that as winter approaches,
538
00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:47,720
beaver activity will snowball.
539
00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:50,440
OK, buddy.
540
00:41:55,160 --> 00:42:00,880
When I planted some big willows and
five or six aspens many years ago,
541
00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:05,120
1,500 worth of willows,
1,000 worth of aspen,
542
00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:06,400
one night they're there
543
00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:09,640
and the next morning they're
in a pile in the middle of the pond.
544
00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:13,400
Since that time, I've definitely
been in defence mode.
545
00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:41,600
It's autumn...
546
00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:46,640
..and human activity around Jackson
is slacking off.
547
00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:52,920
But beaver activity
has gone into overdrive.
548
00:42:56,880 --> 00:43:01,120
Winter is just weeks away,
and, like people and Christmas,
549
00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:04,840
beavers know that there are
only so many "shopping days"
550
00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:06,480
before the ice comes.
551
00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:13,480
Top of the list
is preparing their hide-out.
552
00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:19,400
Beavers can build a new lodge
in just 20 days,
553
00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:23,040
shifting around three tonnes
of material in the process.
554
00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:29,480
Even existing lodges
get a make-over.
555
00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:38,560
Extra mud and sticks provide
insulation against the cold.
556
00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:48,320
And once this surface layer freezes,
557
00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:50,560
it'll prevent
any desperate predators
558
00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:55,520
like wolves, cougars or coyotes
breaking in in search of a snack.
559
00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:02,560
With their lives
dependent on these preparations,
560
00:44:02,560 --> 00:44:05,920
it's make-or-break time
for beavers and their families.
561
00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:14,880
And sometimes they get support
where they might least expect it.
562
00:44:16,480 --> 00:44:18,440
The beaver were here first.
563
00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:24,480
We want to protect them and see
if we can't find that happy medium.
564
00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:27,080
We're the ones
that are crowding the wildlife.
565
00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:30,280
We're the ones that planted
the trees that they need.
566
00:44:30,280 --> 00:44:32,480
It's really not
the beavers' problem.
567
00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:35,320
We're kind of creating it,
in a sense.
568
00:44:35,320 --> 00:44:39,800
So we're here to try to find harmony
with the beaver
569
00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:43,720
and peace in our neighbourhoods
as we move into his habitat.
570
00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:47,960
Oh, right here. Look at this.
571
00:44:47,960 --> 00:44:50,520
Drew's calls aren't always
motivated by
572
00:44:50,520 --> 00:44:53,280
people worried
about the damage beavers cause.
573
00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:57,560
This does completely freeze over
in the winter,
574
00:44:57,560 --> 00:45:01,000
so I don't know whether it'll freeze
all the way down or...
575
00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:02,960
That's the crucial part.
576
00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:05,760
This time, he's been called out
by a local homeowner
577
00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:07,440
who's concerned about a beaver
578
00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:10,920
that's been spotted
in this shallow irrigation ditch.
579
00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:14,080
If they were to stick around here
at this point, it would...
580
00:45:14,080 --> 00:45:16,080
COULD essentially be
a suicide mission,
581
00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:18,200
trying to live in this ditch
for the winter.
582
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:21,400
If this ditch freezes up completely,
583
00:45:21,400 --> 00:45:24,000
the beaver will be forced
to forage on land,
584
00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:26,080
making it easy meat
for any predator.
585
00:45:27,280 --> 00:45:29,000
It's not a good place
for them long-term.
586
00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:32,680
It doesn't really sound like a good
place for them in the short term.
587
00:45:32,680 --> 00:45:34,960
I mean, I think...
588
00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:39,040
you know, one way or the other, they
really need to live somewhere else.
589
00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:42,760
We'll do what we can, but
if Jeff can give me a better idea,
590
00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:44,320
that'll be helpful.
591
00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:45,640
Absolutely.
592
00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:49,240
Agh!
593
00:45:49,240 --> 00:45:50,520
HE STRAINS
594
00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:58,080
Jeff is dealing with a blockage.
595
00:45:59,080 --> 00:46:00,360
Ooh!
596
00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:04,200
It's the drainage pipe
at the downstream end of the ditch.
597
00:46:06,280 --> 00:46:09,640
It's been blocked,
presumably by the beaver,
598
00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:12,920
in an attempt to turn the ditch
into a viable pond.
599
00:46:12,920 --> 00:46:14,640
Mud.
600
00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:17,640
Vegetation. Sticks.
601
00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:21,320
He's hoping that unblocking the pipe
will draw any beavers out,
602
00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:23,360
revealing just how many there are.
603
00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:26,040
Rocks.
604
00:46:26,040 --> 00:46:27,680
A lot of rocks.
605
00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:32,640
They were masons, these beavers.
Stonemasons.
606
00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:37,560
Beavers instinctively build dams,
607
00:46:37,560 --> 00:46:39,520
and, like Pavlov's dogs,
608
00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:43,640
the sound of running water seems to
drive them into construction frenzy,
609
00:46:43,640 --> 00:46:46,640
feeding a desperate urge
to repair any leaks.
610
00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:48,360
HE STRAINS
611
00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:50,800
It's so packed in here, tight.
612
00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:54,640
So clearing the pipe
should bring the beavers out...
613
00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:57,440
assuming Jeff can unblock it
in the first place.
614
00:46:57,440 --> 00:47:01,480
HE STRAINS
This is the one. This is the hulk!
615
00:47:07,480 --> 00:47:08,920
Phew!
616
00:47:09,880 --> 00:47:14,080
With the water flowing again,
Jeff heads off to take position.
617
00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:19,080
Oh!
618
00:47:19,080 --> 00:47:20,120
SNUFFLING
619
00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:22,640
Can you hear that?
620
00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:36,320
So, we have the makings of a lodge
right here. There's not much to it.
621
00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:42,240
It might not look much, but at least
one beaver is calling this home.
622
00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:43,760
Right there.
623
00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:47,520
See the beaver chewing that stick?
624
00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:53,560
They've excavated under this bush,
625
00:47:53,560 --> 00:47:56,680
and that's the extent
of their lodge.
626
00:47:56,680 --> 00:47:59,160
They have a lot of work here
yet to do
627
00:47:59,160 --> 00:48:02,560
to make this a fortress.
628
00:48:02,560 --> 00:48:04,480
Oh! Wow, there you go.
629
00:48:06,120 --> 00:48:09,960
As the beaver slips off downstream,
Jeff follows it.
630
00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:14,400
He's headed down
towards the culvert.
631
00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:20,080
Oh, very nice, very nice.
632
00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:21,400
Sure enough,
633
00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:25,320
the beaver is checking out
the sudden disappearance of its dam.
634
00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:30,880
But is there just the one?
635
00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:39,120
HE IMITATES BEAVER CHEWING
636
00:48:39,120 --> 00:48:43,600
I've read somewhere that
if you want to attract a beaver,
637
00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:46,520
try making the sound
of the beaver chewing.
638
00:48:47,560 --> 00:48:49,000
Right over!
639
00:48:49,920 --> 00:48:53,280
'Boy, I've been trying that,
and it really seems to work!'
640
00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:58,920
These beavers seem to swim
towards me and come and investigate,
641
00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:01,160
check me out,
see what I'm all about.
642
00:49:02,520 --> 00:49:06,840
Neither the unblocked pipe
nor Jeff's beaver-whispering antics
643
00:49:06,840 --> 00:49:08,720
reveal a second beaver.
644
00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:12,480
It looks as though
there's just one to deal with.
645
00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:21,200
That should make Drew's task simple.
646
00:49:23,200 --> 00:49:27,200
But setting the traps
is proving a problem.
647
00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:29,600
God, it just keeps getting
deeper and deeper!
648
00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:35,600
If the trap
slips into deeper water,
649
00:49:35,600 --> 00:49:38,480
then any trapped beaver
could potentially drown.
650
00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:43,600
But the reality is
Drew needs to catch this beaver.
651
00:49:43,600 --> 00:49:46,600
Leaving it here would be tantamount
to killing it anyway.
652
00:49:47,880 --> 00:49:49,880
Finally!
653
00:49:49,880 --> 00:49:52,520
Shallow enough,
and there's a lot of good activity.
654
00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:01,080
The trap is hot.
655
00:50:07,840 --> 00:50:10,040
And the trap's hot.
656
00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:11,320
Right, right, right there.
657
00:50:11,320 --> 00:50:13,080
Drew's plan is working.
658
00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:14,560
Right there!
659
00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:19,440
But there's a problem.
660
00:50:27,040 --> 00:50:29,000
A second beaver has appeared.
661
00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:15,720
Just couldn't resist, could you?
662
00:51:15,720 --> 00:51:17,800
That was pretty cool!
HE LAUGHS
663
00:51:20,640 --> 00:51:23,040
If a Mountie always gets his man,
664
00:51:23,040 --> 00:51:25,800
then Drew is determined
to get his beaver.
665
00:51:31,880 --> 00:51:34,240
Let's see if we have
the same kind of luck.
666
00:51:38,520 --> 00:51:41,400
Not only will the first beaver's
chances of survival
667
00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:43,480
be improved by catching its mate,
668
00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:46,320
but the second beaver will
struggle to survive the winter
669
00:51:46,320 --> 00:51:47,800
if left in the ditch.
670
00:51:56,160 --> 00:51:58,920
But despite
several nights' trapping...
671
00:51:58,920 --> 00:52:00,120
Nothing there.
672
00:52:00,120 --> 00:52:01,560
..it's a bust.
673
00:52:02,560 --> 00:52:04,080
No way!
674
00:52:05,480 --> 00:52:06,760
Damn.
675
00:52:06,760 --> 00:52:08,440
The beaver has got away.
676
00:52:08,440 --> 00:52:09,920
Nothing.
677
00:52:12,320 --> 00:52:15,560
And with the first signs of winter
already evident...
678
00:52:17,720 --> 00:52:21,080
..Drew wastes no time
in releasing the first beaver.
679
00:52:27,080 --> 00:52:29,240
This late in the year,
the beaver will need
680
00:52:29,240 --> 00:52:31,200
every day it has in its new home
681
00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:33,800
to find sufficient supplies
for the winter.
682
00:52:43,200 --> 00:52:46,800
Beavers spend much of the autumn
building their food cache.
683
00:52:55,040 --> 00:52:57,880
It's their most important job
before winter,
684
00:52:57,880 --> 00:53:00,520
and the whole family
has to pull their weight.
685
00:53:19,400 --> 00:53:22,840
These branches will be
woven together to make a raft,
686
00:53:22,840 --> 00:53:25,280
with the choicest items
wedged underneath
687
00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:27,240
for maximum accessibility.
688
00:53:31,480 --> 00:53:35,360
The cold pond water will effectively
act like a refrigerator,
689
00:53:35,360 --> 00:53:38,960
ensuring the food remains edible
throughout the winter.
690
00:53:45,400 --> 00:53:49,280
Something is taking down willow
on the edge of town.
691
00:53:56,240 --> 00:53:57,960
But with the first snows,
692
00:53:57,960 --> 00:54:01,960
it's now too late for Drew
to relocate any problem beavers.
693
00:54:05,720 --> 00:54:08,680
However, he still has enough
on his plate.
694
00:54:11,320 --> 00:54:15,040
He's put aside his sheriff's badge
to play meals on wheels
695
00:54:15,040 --> 00:54:17,880
for a pair of recently relocated
beavers
696
00:54:17,880 --> 00:54:20,280
that have yet to start
on a food cache.
697
00:54:21,600 --> 00:54:25,040
Well, winter's come, and the best
thing we can do for those beavers
698
00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:30,720
is to kinda help them out
and give them materials myself.
699
00:54:30,720 --> 00:54:33,280
The grocery store came to them,
kind of thing.
700
00:54:37,560 --> 00:54:42,720
It's estimated that beavers need
up to four pounds of bark per day,
701
00:54:42,720 --> 00:54:45,440
so these caches
have to be pretty significant.
702
00:54:47,080 --> 00:54:48,720
It might not be much,
703
00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:52,200
but every branch
increases the beavers' chances.
704
00:54:52,200 --> 00:54:53,480
Being able to stay
705
00:54:53,480 --> 00:54:57,320
either in their lodge
or under the ice all winter long,
706
00:54:57,320 --> 00:55:01,000
they're not risking
getting out on the shoreline
707
00:55:01,000 --> 00:55:02,560
and into the snow and stuff,
708
00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:06,080
and, you know, potentially a predator
coming along and whacking them.
709
00:55:19,720 --> 00:55:21,640
It's a 1½ hour drive
710
00:55:21,640 --> 00:55:25,400
to the spot where the relocated
beavers have set up home.
711
00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:46,320
And he still has a 15-minute hike
to reach their lodge.
712
00:55:48,560 --> 00:55:50,640
The things I do for these beavers!
713
00:56:03,560 --> 00:56:07,480
It looks like the two beavers
I put in have already gone to work
714
00:56:07,480 --> 00:56:09,280
and have started a food cache.
715
00:56:09,280 --> 00:56:13,240
And no harm, no foul, I can just
supplement that for them
716
00:56:13,240 --> 00:56:16,480
and, you know, give them
a little bit better head start.
717
00:56:21,120 --> 00:56:23,280
There you go. Feeding beavers!
718
00:56:26,840 --> 00:56:29,040
It's not a moment too soon.
719
00:56:36,920 --> 00:56:39,400
The big freeze has started.
720
00:56:42,080 --> 00:56:45,520
In town, residents are hunkering
down for the winter.
721
00:56:47,280 --> 00:56:49,120
And so are the beavers.
722
00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:56,920
They don't hibernate, but,
encased in a world of snow and ice,
723
00:56:56,920 --> 00:57:00,040
the beavers will spend
most of the next six months
724
00:57:00,040 --> 00:57:02,400
snuggled up inside their lodges.
725
00:57:06,040 --> 00:57:10,040
Despite outside temperatures
dropping to 40 degrees below,
726
00:57:10,040 --> 00:57:13,840
inside the lodge it will hover
just above freezing...
727
00:57:16,760 --> 00:57:20,600
..ensuring the beavers
can always slip out for a snack.
728
00:57:37,240 --> 00:57:40,360
Drew is also
shutting down operations.
729
00:57:44,720 --> 00:57:49,640
With his equipment safely packed
away, he can finally relax...
730
00:57:58,760 --> 00:58:00,600
..until next spring...
731
00:58:05,160 --> 00:58:08,400
..when the beavers will be back.
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