The
Birth of "Beaver Man"
Kirk DeKalb's story
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Raised
in North Alabama, son of an avid hunter, Kirk DeKalb
is no stranger to nature. His love of the outdoors
is a lifelong passion. Fishing was a natural bent
for this
boy who was constantly drawn to a fishing pond. His
fondness for nature was fostered, as his family moved
nearer to
the woods and Kirk found himself daily seeking the
mysteries of the forest. Having a best friend, whose
family owned
and operated a Dairy farm, birthed a love for animals
in his early teen years. Working closely with this
family and living with them during the summer months,
increased
his desire to someday have his own farm… which
is now a dream fulfilled! However, becoming a Trapper,
and anything close to resembling, "Beaver Man" was
not even on Kirk's "nature radar" until
he was taught by a trapper from Ohio, how to set
a Conibear
Trap.
Six
weeks later, he caught 200 beaver and the "fire
was lit" inside him. In January 1996, Kirk discovered
that his county had a bounty on beaver. Over the next
90 days, he had trapped 546 beaver. At this same time
there were 28 other trappers from the county, with
a yearly total (October to May) of 144 Beaver trapped.
Therefore, the county contracted Kirk to officially
assist with the Roads and Bridges Office, eventually
spreading to four other counties.
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Kirk
quickly became known as, "Beaver Man." Local residents
identified him as a friend who assisted in eliminating their
flooding and drainage problems. Adjoining counties recognized
his unique talent and also contracted him to trap along their
roads and right-of-ways. Now, eleven years later, he has
felt compelled to share what he has learned from his experience.
It is his desire to help other counties and municipalities
to learn ways to control their ever encroaching Beaver population,
thus relieving the residents of flooding possibilities, bridge
destruction, and hazardous road conditions.
With
an extended background in Construction, the Dairy Business,
and Farming, this outdoorsman has the ability to see trapping
from a different perspective.
Currently
holding a Florida General Contractor's license and a Virginia
Class A General Contractor's License, helps him to assess
the damage and ramifications of soil erosion, irrigation
issues, timber losses, and road damage. It is Kirk’s
desire to help humans and animals co-exist to the good of
all mankind.
Kirk can be seen on the North American Trapper TV Show as a featured nuisance trapper.
Watch the show HERE.
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