If you were looking for Lewisporte on a map (and I can’t imagine why you would be) you would need to go all the way across the united states. Past North Dakota and New York and Vermont. All the way up past Maine. Past New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Past Labrador and East coast of Canada. Into the cold Atlantic ocean and  onto the very last shivering northern island of Newfoundland – the very last stop on the very stretched out fingertips of an entire continent.

And THEN – once your on the very last piece of land before endless blue – go to the upper most farthest corner- practically the farthest place IN the farthest place – before you can find Lewisporte. There is a sliver of NL to their east, but basically It is so far into the blue that their closest neighbor to the North is Greenland, to the south is Guyana, and to the East is Spain.

This city is quite literally as far away as it can possibly be and still be North American.

And it has a problem with beavers. All the way out there. Are we surprised?

Dealing with the dam problem: Lewisporte hopes to trap beavers to prevent flooding

LEWISPORTE, N.L. — In hopes of preventing future floods, the town of Lewisporte is tackling a beaver problem. At their town council meeting Jan. 29, Coun. Stephen Hollet expressed concern around beaver dams in the watershed area near the Scissors Cove brook area.

With more frequent heavy rainfalls in recent years, and with memories of the flooding in 2016, the town council suspects these dams are playing a significant role in rising water levels and increasing flood risks.

“We never had that level of flooding before, even with storms like Hurricane Igor,” Hollett told The Central Voice. “The only thing that’s changed in that area is the presence of dams. We’ve noticed heavy rains are starting to occur more than what we use to see.

Because beavers are worse than hurricanes. Didn’t you know?

The town has contacted Ewen Whiteway, a licensed trapper in Lewisporte, to trap the beavers and remove them from the brook. According to Coun. Ken Tucker, while this may alleviate some of the problem, there is a risk that the beavers will return again.

“It’s only a temporary solution [if the beavers return],” Tucker said. “I think we’ll have to put in a plan of monitoring the area once or twice a year, particularly in the late summer and fall. It’s in our best interest to stay on top of the issue.”

The town council also decided to write a letter to Dept. of Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne to seek input from the province. Because of the flood risks these dams pose to the infrastructure and safety of the community, Coun. Perry Pond says the department holds some responsibility.

The department said in an emailed statement that they deal with furbearers on a case by case basis, and while there are options for conservation officers to tackle the problem, hiring local trappers is the preferred solution during winter  months.

You didn’t actually say how beavers are causing a the flooding. Dams in the watershed area of scissors brook cove? Your town is so very remote I cannot actually find this on a map, But I assume the dams are backing up water in the creek before it can reach the cove. Which is flooding someone’s back yard or driveway, i guess.

I would mention that trapping is a temporary solution and that installing a flow device would address this issue for the long term. But honestly, what’s the point?

Beavers are worse than hurricanes.

Same as it ever was.
Same as it ever was.
Same as it ever was.

Illinois is no exception.

Fearing floods, Prospect Heights removing beavers, dam from creek

Prospect Heights is removing at least two beavers and the dam they’ve built on McDonald Creek in a local park because of concerns about flooding.

The decision is drawing criticism from some members of the city’s natural resource commission and highlights the problems that many suburbs contend with when wildlife and people try to coexist.

I know what you’re thinking. Another trapping story? Good lord can’t you write about anything else? but this ones different. It’s special. It has a natural resources commission.

“I’m really sad about it, but it’s a done deal for now,” Agnes Wojnarski, chairwoman of the natural resources commission, said during a meeting last week.

“Due to the nature of where they’re located, there’s just no way they could stay there and not negatively impact residents,” said Peter Falcone, assistant to the city administrator.

Well sure, it’s a natural resources commission without any power or oversight but hey, that’s something right?

Seth Marcus, another member of the natural resource commission, said during the meeting that the city could have studied other solutions such as installing pipes under the dam to allow water through or trapping and sterilizing the beavers before returning them to the site to prevent others from moving in.

“The point is that there are solutions that may or may not win the discussion of the day, but it would be nice to at least be consulted before,” Marcus said.

However, the city is concerned that the dam could cause flooding upstream or become dislodged during a major storm and block drainage pipes, Falcone said.

“I would love to coexist with the beavers, but it’s not feasible,” Falcone said.

Now, now. I know what you’re thinking. But this is Illinois and we’re grading on a curve. Knowing that folks wanted to at least mention flow devices before dispatching the animals is a kind of triumph.

Baby steps for babies.

For several months, city public works crews have been removing the beavers’ dam, but each time the animals rebuilt, officials said. Finally, the city hired a company to trap and remove the beavers. Once they’re gone, the city will remove the dam a final time.

I’m so old I remember the first time i wrote about the unfathomable efforts of a public works crew tearing down the dam every week and being surprised when the beavers rebuilt. I believe I mocked “Ohh that’s unfortunate. You must have one of those rare rebuilding beavers. That almost never always happens.”

Same as it ever was,