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,