How to Build Beaver Traps

If you find yourself in a survival situation next to a water source, look for signs of beaver. One of the easiest and most productive ways to trap a beaver is with a snare. You can make snares from any type of cord you have available in a survival situation. It might be boot laces, fishing line, or strong vines. Beaver usually weigh between 35 and 66 lbs., so if you trap a beaver you will have a meal to last a few nights in the wild.

Things You'll Need

  • Strong cord
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Look for game trails and other beaver signs next to your water source. Beaver signs will consist of a dam built from logs, trees stumps that are chewed to a point, paw-prints, and mudslides into the river or pond.

    • 2

      Look for a narrow funnel about 2 feet wide on the game trail or mudslide. Next, look for a strong anchor to tie one end of your snare to. A good anchor will be a tree trunk, strong sapling, or large rock.

    • 3

      Grab your cord and tie a slip knot on one end. Make sure your noose is about 5 inches wide so the beaver can fit his head through. Tie the other end of the cord to your anchor with a simple over-hand knot.

    • 4

      Hang the noose in the middle of the trail about 2 inches off the ground. If there's not a pre-existing tree branch or rock to hang your noose, break off a 3-foot long branch with a Y fork at one end. Drive the Y stick in the ground and hang your snare off the Y in the branch.

    • 5

      Prop your noose open if the cord is limp. You can use small twigs or sticks and place them inside the slip-knot noose to prop it open in the rough shape of a circle. Place as many snares as possible, with the cord you have available, on the game trail or mudslide to increase the odds of trapping the beaver. Make sure the snares are about 10 feet apart.