Looking over your picture of your set up, I think you might use some sort of small shovel, or trowel. When I am making coyote or fox sets, I use a regular garden trowel, and sometimes a Plumb® rock hammer for digging. Keep that young man interested, looks like you are off to a fine start!
My nephew had a beaver problem in the small tank in front of his house, and being a dry land raised boy, didn't know how to deal with it. The beavers cut all of his cattails (no loss) and had started to work on the willows and dig in the tank dam.
I ordered him a #330 Conibear and a trap setter...
We have had a LEM #8 500 watt for the past four seasons. Did 87½ lbs. of hamburger grind on it this year in about 3½ - 4 hours. Might have been quicker if we had had enough tubs to just keep grinding, but had to stop, bag and vacuum seal. Also, the knife has four seasons of grinding an average...