Busting Beaver Dams with 5085E

[GimmeShelter]

I'm purchasing a 5 series. I'm still pondering between 5085E, 5090E, 5100E, but I'll probably spring for the best deal out of the three and have a forestry cage built.

I am also looking to purchase a 3pt backhoe for beaver dam removal. The tractor will primarily be attached to a heavy duty cutter, and I have read that it is difficult to attach a backhoe to a 3pt hitch. Is this the best option? If I should go the 3pt route, which is the best backhoe? I foresee it being used 6-10 times per year.

 

[Texasmark]

I combined 2 ponds once...had it done by an experienced dozer operator. He cleaned out the mud between the two containers of water then starting at one corner of the upper container and working at a 45* angle down hill cut the corner off the dam a little at a time. As he worked his way across the dam, having cut the mud as he went, the dozer had good traction to complete the task. Quite impressive.

With that said and having used my FEL bucket for pond cleanout during droughts, I would forget the hoe and leave your mower on the 3 pt for increased traction and using your loader to bust your dam as mentioned. Hopefully you get 4wd (swap the cost of 4wd for the hoe cost) for the extra traction and the (usually) larger front tire with more buoyancy in soft soils/clay.

 

[atsah]

And add a grapple, they work great for dam removal as well as many other things..

 

[CobyRupert]

2 cents:
That’s a lot of money to get stuck in the mud just for beaver dams.
I’ve used a log (or ice) pike on a 9’-10’ long handle. Depending on how big the pond is:
1/2 hour the first day, they’ll try to fix it, 1/2 hour the second day...eventually enough water runs out of pond...exposes lodge...they either give up or a couple more days does it....

 

[buck12]

2 cents:
That痴 a lot of money to get stuck in the mud just for beaver dams.
I致e used a log (or ice) pike on a 9?10 long handle. Depending on how big the pond is:
1/2 hour the first day, they値l try to fix it, 1/2 hour the second day...eventually enough water runs out of pond...exposes lodge...they either give up or a couple more days does it....

NY beavers must be different than MS beavers because the beavers on my place will build back in the same place day after day.

A Grapple is a great tool to remove beaver dams provided one can keep the tractor on solid ground.

 

[oosik]

Geeze - sounds like a good way to loose a new tractor. Just one MINOR slip and you & your new tractor will be in the soup. Over half a century ago the Game Dept, in these parts, gave up using dynamite on beaver dams. They were completely rebuilt - bigger & stronger - in just a couple days.

The answer - have the beavers trapped and relocated. THEN do as Coby Rupert suggests.

JMHO - you are going to great lengths to plan a potential, serious disaster. I've seen a LOT of beaver dams removed. Always done with manual labor. A beaver dam is not as stable as it looks - once you are out on it. Especially so, if you are out there with heavy equipment.