Busy beavers unwelcome in Amherst
Traps set to control critters who gnawed memorial trees
Some commemorative trees standing along the Ellicott Creek Trailway are sporting skinny waistlines these days – if they’re standing at all – thanks to some busy beavers who are now in the cross hairs of the Town of Amherst.
The town began setting traps a few weeks ago to capture and kill the critters, a long-standing but not well-known practice that waxes and wanes depending on weather conditions. In wetter seasons, the dams built by beavers can lead to flooding damage. In drier years, like this one, the beavers have to create more dams, which means more tree damage.
And so it goes. Terrorists kill New Yorkers, and New Yorkers plant trees, and beavers chew trees, and New Yorkers kill beavers. The article waxes on to point out that they only kill beavers when it’s been a very wet year – or a very dry one. Or whenever they think of it. They have to do this. It’s not like they can protect the trees any other way.
As far as encircling all the memorial trees along the creek bank with wire mesh, Anderson said the town simply doesn’t have the resources. “I just don’t have the men, the manpower and the money,” he said.
I took the liberty of drawing up the onerous equipment list you will need to supply and I’m going to assume you can afford it. Heck, Worth A Dam will chip in for brushes if you want. Get the local scout troop involved and have them paint the trunks – they’d do it for a badge and a packet of skittles.
I saw three beavers this morning, Dad, Reed and Jr looking very beaver like at the secondary dam. Someone has put a very tidy layer of mud across the surface that is so even it looks like they used a ruler. Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to stalwart beaver hero and indispensable carrier of all things heavy, Jon. Because he has worked in the same place doing the same thing while several different corporations passed the potato, he is eligible today to collect one of the last blue collar pensions in California! Thanks for everything and the beavers could never manage it without you!
