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Animal in my backyard

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From: Bea Cervantes City: Chicago, IL
I have a visitor in my backyard, which I have tentatively identified as a beaver, though the tail does not look right. Two questions: is it possible for a beaver to live away from water (it is eating apples in my yard); and how to I get rid of it without hurting it. I called the City's Animal Control people but they did nothing. Please advise. Thank you.
	Extension Message From: Laura Kammin Visiting Extension Specialist, Pollution Prevention Extension-Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program lkammin@illinois.edu
Beavers do move over land, but tend to stay fairly close to water, unless they are animals trying to find a new territory. It seems more likely that the animal is a woodchuck. But muskrats may also be a possibility. If you send me a photo I can identify the animal for you. And then we can proceed from there.
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