Dept. Forestry and Natural Resources
715 W. State Street
W. Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 494-3590
FAX: (765) 494-9461

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Beaver (Castor canadensis)

The beaver is the largest rodent in North America. Like all rodents, they have sharp incisors and bite cleanly through plant stems and twigs. Beaver are nocturnal and cause damage at night in fields relatively close to open water. Many people are familiar with the lodges beaver construct within ponds, but beaver also excavate bank dens along rivers and streams.

Corn

Time of damage to corn is limited to late vegetative stages of growth (V12-V15) just prior to the tassel stage (>48 in) and lasts until before browning/maturity of the stalk. Damage to corn caused by beaver is easily identified. Stalks are cleanly cut close to ground level at about a 45-degree angle.
Beaver will usually drag the cut stalks along a conspicuous path, or “beaver run,” towards the water.
Some cut stalks may be visible along the water’s edge.