Flooding and fur population

[longline]

Guys I have always wondered this does flooding have a huge effect on fur population. I guess it's more towards the water animals. But I suppose it effects land animals as well?

[mustelameister]

IMO, one of the reasons we had such high muskrat populations this fall was due to the somewhat stable water conditions in 2009. High water puts those 'rats up on the bank where every raptor in the world is licking its chops, as well as other predators.

Certainly beaver to some degree, but not as much as 'rats.

'Coon, IMO, aren't affected much.

Also depends on how widespread the flooding is and the duration of the flood.

Many, many factors involved here, but that's just a brief snapshot.

[Steve Gappa]

Beaver get pounded I think if they are in bank dens- i've seen flash floods come through, where after there are dead beaver all over- I think they are in the dens, it floods, by the time the dens get flooded and the come out, the flood is so fast and furiuos they just get tumbled and drowned- dead beaver aftr floods used to surprize me, not so anymore

I think normal floods don't affect coon much beyond the bottom land coon on the bigger rivers-

but i think the SE Mn August floods 2 years aog, rainy period then 17 inches overnight on these hills caused massive runoff floods that took many houses off of foundations, and twisted train tracks like pretizels- places miles from any creeks or rivers-

imagine those type of mud/water floods 27 times in one year in the old town of Beaver-

I do think, it hurt our coon population quite a bit- all in the SE report last 2 years low numbers- I think ithsi s one main reason why, allow perhaps not the only reason-

[northof50]

The durration of the Red River flood put the beaver, well into the tributories, the other problen is that they are welping just at the tail end of the water going down so house get made in unusual spots. After each big flood there has only been young newly weds in the Red.
The coon have the same problem in their young are coming around 1 May and the water is just succeding and there are no denning bank sites after a flood.
It does take 3 years for the small mammal pop. to come back in the flood zones and then the fisher come back. With the exception of red squirrels who are only left with tree nesting cavities, no aborial nesting.

[hotandry]

Flooding will take out some local fur. But prolonged drought/lack of water is much worse.

For everthing. Water fur and land fur.

A wet year may be miserable for the trapper. But in the long run it pays to have all that water.

[NittanyLion]

Flooding will not only take out some fur it will change and destroy some habitat. I agree however a severe drought would have more affect.