Last Thursday I posted about my conversation with Kat and Rhonda about the beaver situation in Irving Texas. They were protective about their ‘source’ who alerted them to the action and wanted to make sure I would protect her as well. They might not have bothered because Bonnie Bradshaw decided to talk to the media herself.

In Irving, a fallen tree ignites a fight over beaver banishment

Around the same time, Irving was advertising next year’s trapping contract. The only bidders were Moore and Bonnie Bradshaw — a leader in the movement against wildlife relocation.

 Citing research showing higher death rates among transplanted beavers, Bradshaw pitched the city on her plan to scrap the traps and instead coat trees in beaver- repellent paint. Parks officials weren’t interested. They already protect their trees, and needed a way to deal with resident complaints and potential cave-ins caused by beaver caverns.

 So Bradshaw took her pitch to the public, sending out a dire news release that warned of Irving’s “plan to secretly trap beavers.”

 “I could care less about getting the contract,” Bradshaw said. “I just don’t want the beavers trapped.”

 City officials say the new contract — presumed to go to Moore — would merely continue their policy of no-kill, as-needed beaver control. But Bradshaw, quoting from the document, painted it as “a year-long contract to trap ‘as many beavers as possible’ from ‘any wetland area’ within the city limits.” (The contract actually says potential trap sites “will include any type of wet land areas.”)

 “Please shine a spotlight on something that the city is trying to hide under the cover of darkness,” she wrote, highlighting a requirement that trappers work in off-hours and avoid public contact.

 Word of the contract spread through wildlife circles in North Texas and beyond. An ecologist with the Humane Society of the United States emailed the city from Connecticut, warning that more beavers would simply replace the trapped ones.

 Last week, Bradshaw and a few others went to City Hall to promote an online petition against the policy. Nearly 900 have signed.

 Soon, news cameras were in Northwest Park and city officials were answering calls from worried beaver lovers.

 “They’re being misinformed,” said Joe Moses, assistant director of Irving’s parks department. “They’re under the impression we’re going out in the middle of the night trying to rid the city of beavers.”

Bonnie has been working to teach the use of flow devices in Texas. Now that is bringing the message that relocation isn’t the honeymoon it sounds like right to the people! If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad… It’s about time someone talked about the risks of relocation. Especially if you are dumping one or two at a time into an area that already has lots of dumped beavers!

Moore and Bradshaw are big names in North Texas wildlife management. And big rivals.

 Bradshaw contracts with the Johnson Space Center and Dallas, which she says has moved from traps to educating residents since it hired her. Moore, in contrast, roams the region catching gators, snakes and worse. A few years ago, he helped Irving plan a massive roundup of feral hogs.

 “His livelihood depends on promoting the myth that relocating is better for the animals,” Bradshaw said. “That’s not scientifically based.”

 She pointed to studies that found beavers had trouble surviving after being moved. Researchers in Wyoming tracked more than 100 and found that every juvenile either died or wandered away from its new home.

 Moore questioned Bradshaw’s motives. “She’s trying to spank the city of Irving because they didn’t hire her,” he said.

Shh, here’s my favorite part…

 He asked what kind of life a beaver could have surrounded by traffic, concrete and homeowners who tend to shoot nuisance wildlife, not report it.

Funny question that. I know about 36,000 people who can tell you that the  city of Martinez beavers are enormously happy. Seven years happy to be exact. Well let’s hope Irving keeps the argument going long enough to force a discussion and a new beaver management policy. Certainly Mr. Moore’s generous offer to  move beavers piecemeal into a beaver ghetto where they will never find family members and die of competition needs to be exposed to a little more sunlight. I would say Irving is well on their way.

Mean while, our own Cheryl Reynolds has been diligently waiting with camera poised for the arrival of kits with no luck yet. Our beavers have been humerous good sports though and afforded her the opportunity for delightful snapshots this weekend. One came when an old plank floated up on the primary dam at high tide.

Arrgh! Who knew beavers were pirates? The other fantastic moment came when beavers emerged near the secondary dam through the water so thick with fish there were actually fish flipping around on ther back and head when she surfaced! The many hazards of a beaver’s life!

I guess we shouldn’t be impatient. Reviewing the history I see that kits weren’t photographed until June 10th last year or July 1st the year before that. Good things will come to those who wait.