There’s a new development in beaverdom you might have noticed if you’ve been visiting the dam site. The yearlings have moved into a frat house down stream, far enough away from mom and dad to safely enjoy their all night parties and keggers, but close enough to still borrow money every time they need it. We did a swat team observation on sunday to confirm that the parents were still in the old (new) lodge, and they definately came out for the night from above the dam, while the yearlings came out from below it.
Remember your first apartment? It didn’t quite look like mom and dad’s, and you were perfectly happy sitting on milk crates or opening the refridgerator with a screw driver. Same for our beavers, who appear to just use a hole in the bank at the moment. They were bringing lots of twigs and reeds for bedding that night, so I’m sure they’re only a few lava lamps away from it being home sweet home.
With the summer developments we have our recurring problem of JDFFB. (Juvenile Delinquents Fishing From the Bridge.) Early on I wrote the mayor about this and was brushed aside with the (wishful) remark “the beavers might just become victims of their own popularity”. (Um, Mr. Mayor, I think your unconscious slip might be showing.) The police did come out last night because the JD’s were F-ing from the Bertolas property, which is illegal, but not before they frightened the grandmother who asked them to stop, and later wrote me much shaken.
Tonight, July 13th, there were quite a few boys fishing off the cement place next to Bertolo’s, beyond the “no tresspassing” sign. The “no tresspassing” gate was propped open and the young people were gathering by ones and twos. I approached the boys and told them that fishing there might not be actually illegal, but it is rude. They said they would be careful and if they saw a beaver they would stop. So a yearling swam on by and they did nothing with the two lines they had in the water. I said “I see you seeing that beaver and you are still fishing”. The biggest boy, with large hunting knife near him, said I should stop talking to him right away if I knew what was good for me. I was very dissapointed with how he spoke to me, an obvious grandmother. I called the police from Luigi’s, who was very kind, and they did respond. The officer I spoke to, sorry, I didn’t get his name, said that was the only place they could not fish legally because it is private property. I was saddened by the entire events of the evening…
Apparently it is perfectly legal to fish from the bridge, although hardly a good idea. The best we can do is ask, and then hover. Take your friends with you and go stand near the crowd. I’m thinking some older women just appearing really interested in their day and who their best friend is and whether the drink whole or skim milk might drive them out pretty darn quick. It worked for me when I was a JDFFB.
I may have other news for you soon. Stay tuned.
