We saw two of these platforms in the canal connecting Smith and Bybee Lakes today. They're covered with large chunks of carrot. We didnt see anything that looked like a trap.
What do you think they're for? The carrot pieces seem too big for birds to eat. Beaver feeding stations?
floating carrots
- vibramhead
- Posts: 810
- Joined: November 15th, 2009, 10:52 am
- Location: SW Portland
Re: floating carrots
I think it's a nutria bait station, used with a camera to assess population size. They're an exotic, and do a lot of damage.
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14398
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: floating carrots
Then we should arrange the carrots in patterns.
Maybe a tower.
Spell out "no nutria here"?
Maybe a tower.
Spell out "no nutria here"?
Re: floating carrots
I like your sense of humor Jerry...
I would think if there was enough of a problem with nutria they wouldn't need to go to the expense of building a floating bait dock, they would just go to work exterminating them.
I would think if there was enough of a problem with nutria they wouldn't need to go to the expense of building a floating bait dock, they would just go to work exterminating them.
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14398
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: floating carrots
Maybe they need to figure out how many, before exterminating.
If you just start killing Nutria, you won't know how many more there are, or if there are enough to worry about.
In 1960s I went Nutria trapping with friend. I just walked along. If there was enough of a bounty, people would trap them.
If you just start killing Nutria, you won't know how many more there are, or if there are enough to worry about.
In 1960s I went Nutria trapping with friend. I just walked along. If there was enough of a bounty, people would trap them.
Re: floating carrots
you can safely assume there are no more when the traps go empty.
Nutria used to be prized for their fur, maybe someone could start making locally made fur coats..... I hear retro is in!
Nutria used to be prized for their fur, maybe someone could start making locally made fur coats..... I hear retro is in!
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2
- vibramhead
- Posts: 810
- Joined: November 15th, 2009, 10:52 am
- Location: SW Portland
Re: floating carrots
This document at p. 8, seems to explain what's going on:
And according to this, the typical control technique is to poison them with zinc phosphide, but it sounds like Wildlife Services is going to stick with sharpshooters.
Here's a typical nutria bait raft:In the month of November Wildlife Services Chris Lulay, spent 77 hours between November 2nd
and November 20th to remove 122 Nutria. While on site, Wildlife Services observed multiple aquatic
species; including Beaver Muskrat and Nutria. Wildlife Services control efforts include the use of a few
cage traps with little success and the use of suppressed firearms and spotlight to remove all of the Nutria
that were taken.
The environmental damage, observed by WS at the Smith Bybee Lake recreation area, was some of the
worst that the Northwest WS district has ever observed. This in turn is very unhealthy and can have a
negative impact on native plant species.
Future projects that would be recommended would be for WS to set up bait stations of carrots on rafts
around the lakes. WS would use game cameras to get a better idea of how many animals may be on
sight. The use of game cameras would assist in conducting more removal projects with the use of a
suppressed firearm and spotlight.
And according to this, the typical control technique is to poison them with zinc phosphide, but it sounds like Wildlife Services is going to stick with sharpshooters.
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: floating carrots
That is interesting - I had no idea! Thanks for the info.
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
Re: floating carrots
Gee thanks for the enlightenment Vibramhead. We did see quite a few burrows that might have been from the nutria, but not the critters themselves.
Maybe we should get some of these dog treats for our favorite canines.
Maybe we should get some of these dog treats for our favorite canines.
- vibramhead
- Posts: 810
- Joined: November 15th, 2009, 10:52 am
- Location: SW Portland
Re: floating carrots
Brilliant way to harness the free market!cfm wrote:Maybe we should get some of these dog treats for our favorite canines.