More like this, please:
Commissioner Bob Main will not get my vote
I listened to the recent Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting regarding the beaver trapping ban in the national forests. The intent of the ban was to protect our declining fisheries. Beavers are a “keystone species,” an organism whose pond-creating powers support entire biological communities. In Oregon, a host of threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs depend on them.
A growing body of evidence suggests that by creating ponds, storing water, and converting straight streams into multi-threaded ones, beavers expand shelter for young fish and keep creeks well-hydrated. One 1992 study found that two-thirds of Oregon’s coastal coho overwintered in beaver ponds and slack waters. In its coho recovery plan, the National Marine Fisheries Service recommends “encouraging the formation of beaver dams.”
I was surprised to learn our Commissioner Bob Main testified at the ODFW Commission meeting that he wanted to support beaver trapping and was against any rule changes. Under the current rules trappers only have to check their traps every seven days. Seven days in a trap is nothing short of cruel. The same goes for the cyanide poisoning across Oregon.
Commissioner Bob Main will not get my vote this year. He has shown complete disregard to our fish and wildlife.
Charles Erickson, Coos Bay
Excellent letter Charles! Imagine paying such attention to the election of a fish and wildlife officer that you write a letter like this when they vote wrong! Near as I can tell he’s the director of the clam digging association up there. I think he is my new best friend. And of course he’s right. If a commissioner can’t see the salmon for the trees he had better find another line of work.
Perfect timing, really because this evening I’m presenting to the Alhambra Watershed Forum on the Martinez Beavers. It’s nice to be asked back after all these years and I am looking forward to updating the beaver benefits I start illustrating lo these many years ago. They’ve posted the link to the talk on facebook so I believe I can share it.
if you want to zoom in and join us click on this photo at 6:30 tonight!
The Sonoma Index-Tribune recently published a couple of articles about beavers and otters in Sonoma Creek (“Otters Join Beavers in Sonoma Creek,” Dec. 27).
A Nanaimo-area beaver had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving weekend after a Shawnigan Lake family rescued it from being trapped in a hole.
Once he did find his way to the edge of the forest, Jennifer said the little critter right away started eating a maple leaf and other branches.
