We may have won the beaver battle in Martinez, but the war rages on. Recently the killing fields of Canada have been complaining vociferously about beavers . In fact the NWT is offering a 100 dollar reward for killing just one. That’s sure a lot of Canadian nickles.
‘Beavers all over’: N.W.T. communities place $100 bounty on Canada’s national animal
A $100 bounty has been placed on beavers in northern Northwest Territories to reduce the population of the industrious but sometimes troublesome rodents. Beaver-related complaints from various communities in the Mackenzie Delta have increased, primarily about beaver dams and lodges blocking fish-bearing creeks, flooding traditional travel routes, and destroying and disrupting habitat along the waterways of the Delta.
“They’re building their dams and we can’t fish at this lake anymore or that lake — beavers all over,” said Michelle Gruben with the Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee. “Our hunters and trappers have been saying for a few years that beavers are a problem, we’re seeing more and more of them.”
A bounty was first tried last year but hunters and trappers complained the $50 a head didn’t make it worthwhile to cover the cost of gas to go out on the land and the hard work skinning a beaver, which is an awkward animal to skin. The bounty was boosted to $100 this year.
Hunters and trappers must turn in evidence of each kill — the skull, castor sacs and baculum (the penis bone) if it is a male.They also must show an official the stretched beaver hide or packed meat as evidence the animal is being used.
The penis bone? Seriously? The penis bone? What’s the matter? Couldn’t you think of any manlier way to encourage beaver slaughter? The penis bone?
The skull and the castor sacs really isn’t enough. You need the penis too. Those damn male beavers, having all those baby beavers. (?) Plus it’s fun for the kids. You never know what you’re going to get until you open it up!
With the ice clearing, at least 100 beavers were killed and claimed in Aklavik last week, officials said. The program is funded by the territory’s department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Until June 1o there is no limit on the number of beavers you can kill. At 100 dollar a head -er dick- that can add up. Thank goodness the entire program is being paid for by the department of the ENVIRONMENT and NATURAL RESOURCES.
Because nothing says “protecting the environment” like killing beavers.
Okay, I know we all need to take a shower and clear our heads after that horrible article. So I have just the thing. Two mornings ago Rusty Cohn of Napa happened to catch a beaver work section more wonderful than anything we’ve ever seen in Martinez. Two beavers working like gangbusters, fixing their dam with STONES.
Thank you Rusty for capturing this awesome moment and sharing it with us! I’ve seen beavers carry mud and kits in just that way, holding the bounty above their paws and under their chins, but outside of documentaries I had never really seen this happen with stones. Of course you realize you have been beaver blessed now don’t you? You have to keep watch over them forever.
Good for us!
