Nature’s woodworkers: Beaver activity creates hazards and natural art on Tug Lake

Residents with homes or cabins on Tug Lake have noticed an increase in beaver activity. The industrious animals have been busy clearing timber, but their efforts recently created a hazard for one local couple when they targeted an unusually large tree. The beavers chewed through enough of the trunk that, had they succeeded in taking it down, the tree was on a direct trajectory to fall onto the homeowners’ house.
To avert a potential disaster, the homeowners brought in human professionals to remove the tree in the fall of 2025. Taking down the massive tree was a delicate operation, the homeowners said, as the crew had to pull it back carefully to prevent it from falling into the lake.
The homeowners instructed the crew to leave the beaver-chewed stump intact and level off the top rather than cutting it off entirely or down at ground level. They rather liked the unique piece of natural artistry now that it was no longer a potential hazard. The resulting piece beautifully showcases the beavers’ handiwork; the intricate cutting marks left by their teeth achieved a level of smoothing and sanding that rivals what a human could do with a woodworking chisel.
Despite this silver lining, beaver activity can be a nuisance for the Tug Lake community. Most of the trees they take down are smaller in diameter. However, they are actively taking down larger trees on multiple properties along the lake, as well. In some cases, trees have been chewed all the way through but have gotten dangerously jammed in the surrounding canopy, creating what locals refer to as “widow makers.”
For now, the beavers of Tug Lake show no signs of slowing down — and while their industriousness can create headaches for lakefront property owners, the artistry they leave behind is a reminder that nature has its own way of making something beautiful out of what could have been a disaster.
Residents dealing with nuisance beaver activity can contact the Wisconsin DNR or a licensed wildlife control professional for guidance on legal and humane management options.