superior to beaver (Castor canadensis), raccoon (Procyon lotor), or 
woodchuck (Marmota monax). Scheffer (1929) stated that the meat was 
dark-colored and possessed a certain rankness which did not commend it 
as a table delicacy. But this fault could be overcome by proper cook- 
ing. Ingles (1947) reported that mountain beaver flesh is tough. 
As Fur 
Cooper (1860) mentioned that the Nisqually used mountain beaver 
pelts for making robes and garments. A large number of pelts were 
required to make an ordinary robe. He said that the Indians palmed off 
mountain beaver skins for muskrat skins when dealing with inexperienced 
fur agents from the Hudson Bay Company. Scheffer (1929) wrote that 
Bureau of Biological Survey investigations, conducted in cooperation with 
the furriers, showed that the fur was too flat to be profitable in the 
fur trade. Ingles (1947) reported that the fur had little value. Even 
fully primed pelts were seldom worth more than 20 cents. 
CONTROL 
In limited areas of its range the mountain beaver becomes a problen, 
as in certain crop lands and in areas which are being reforested. Con- 
trol measures should be directed only to these problem areas. 
Because of its unwary nature, the mountain beaver is captured 
easily. Harry D. Hartwell, (personal communication) said that the 
surest method, and the only practical method, of removing mountain 
beavers in small areas is by trapping them. He found No. 0, 1, or 1-1/2 
steel traps most effective. Hartwell wrote: 
Steel, Traps 
"The traps are set directly on the ground just inside the burrow 
entrances, or on the floor of caved in runways. They are se- 
cured by stakes or chain. The traps are placed lengthwise to 
the burrow. There is no need to conceal or cover the traps. 
They should be visited at least twice a day, in the morning and 
in the evening, to avoid unnecessary suffering of the captured 
animals, and to insure maximum effectiveness. 
"Conibear" traps set upright and crosswise in the underground 
runways are also effective, These traps set in the runways 
generally catch the animals around the neck and kill them 
quickly. Mountain beavers caught in this manner are better for 
biological specimens since the fur and bones are not damaged. 
Live Traps 
"Live traps are generally employed for life-history studies. 
The two folding traps employed are the 6- by 6- by 19-inch 
single door and the 6- by 6- by 24-inch double door. 
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