Our friends in Montana recently posted about some traps laid for beavers “in order to protect the ducks!” (As if beavers did anything but improve the lives of ducks!) They asked if I’d repost the story here. I would be shocked but I remember when a certain reservoir in Northern California got caught shooting beavers and defended its actions by saying it was protecting red-legged frogs. People lie about beavers all the time!
A dedicated trail volunteer of 3 years at Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge in Stevensville, Montana quit after discovering the intentional trapping of beaver. Why would this dry arid state, with shrinking wetlands impacting rare and endangered species, reduced water resources impacting big game browse, agriculture, irrigation, fisheries and natural fire breaks, exterminate beaver? They are perhaps the most critically necessary species able to create and rectify these dwindling resources.. Why not permit them to live out their vital role in the ecosystem and find safe haven in their refuge? Instead they are being purposefully trapped and killed at our wildlife refuge specifically designed to protect species! Please support I-169 Trap Free Montana Public Lands by going to www.trapfreemt.org
I would say its ironic for a wildlife refuge to trap beavers when their job is to provide a refuge for wildlife, but we know people make dam-fool decisions whenever and wherever the animals are involved. Do they have other options? Amy Chadwick has worked with Skip Lisle to install flow devices in Montana, so they should be able to solve any problem without trapping. Footloose is a large nonprofit in Montana that works to prevent trapping on public lands. Maybe they could help raise funds for it? Worth A Dam will make sure they have all the expert advice they need to solve whatever problem they have (or imagine they have). Why don’t you write them to tell them so here and make sure you mention that Martinez has lived successfully with beavers for 7 years. Next time, before they start trapping beavers, they should know that this is the only “beaver catcher” they really need.
To play along at home, print the PDF and fold your beaver catcher like this, and follow these steps, or better yet play with your local fish and game warden or politician!
• CHOOSE AN ANIMAL THAT BEAVERS HELP
• (EVEN) CHOOSE A REAL PROBLEM THAT BEAVERS CAN CAUSE
• (ODD) CHOOSE A SILLY PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED BEAVERS CAUSE.
• READ THE ANSWER!
