Okay, remember all the unkind things I said about Ohio’s attitudes towards beavers? Well I take it back…most of it. Just look at this article out of the Telegraph Forum.
Overeager beaver causes big headache at Ohio park
MASON – City officials here are grappling with a gnawing problem: a bothersome beaver who’s made his home at Pine Hill Lakes Park.
Officials say the beaver has been, well, busy as a beaver gnawing away at 52 trees and felling three others lining the park’s bike path and lake.
What the beaver sees as a smorgasbord city officials see as a health and safety risk.
Other wildlife experts warn that simply killing the flat-tailed, buck-toothed pest isn’t a quick fix and that more might come in its place.
“They can kill 10 beavers and 10 more will come in their place because that’s what the habitat will support,” said Mary Carrelli, president of Second Chance Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit organization that promotes wildlife education, conservation and rehabilitation.
Carrelli said a better – and more humane – solution may be to simply drive the beaver out naturally through the use of alternative methods, such as fencing off or wrapping trees with inexpensive plastic tubing.
For dam-related issues, a pipe can be placed within the dam to allow for water flow while allowing the beaver to build its structure around it – an approach also recommended by the Humane Society of the United States.
Merry Christmas to you too, Ohio! I never imagined I’d read about a flow device and wrapping trees from the The Buckeye State. Gosh, I guess old dogs really can learn new tricks. Now let’s see of I can.
The Beaver Believers just mailed out their kickstarter campaign gifts. Jon and I got a lovely pair of beaver beer mugs that we will toast on many an occasion. If you need a last minute gift idea for that beaver-lover on your list their shop is open for business here.
