On the right you’ll find a link to the new article in Landscape Architecture that describes a CA beaver powwow I attended in January. Looks like our beavers needed just a little more time in the limelight!
Then a lovely letter to the editor from Stephan Schekel in Iowa City after the Gazette wrote the customary ‘Gosh trappers are really cool I wish I was a trapper‘ article. Nice to see it mortified someone else for a change!
I was very disappointed to see the front-page picture and story regarding an individual who “relieves stress” by trapping and killing animals (“Top trapper,” March 24).
People may differ about trapping but it is cruel and tortuous for the animals and should not be treated in such a nonchalant fashion.The pictures of numerous animal skins, including fox, which are struggling to make a comeback, and beaver, whose habitat is increasingly threatened, was appalling.
I hope and believe that the featured individual’s values and lack of regard for animal suffering are not shared by many of your readers. Apparently the editors of your paper don’t regard compassion for animal suffering important. I would expect that most of your readers do and are outraged by this article.
Stephen Scheckel Iowa City
Nicely said, Stephan! Have you ever thought of starting a beaver festival in Iowa? Then a happy beaver sighting in Arizona at the boat docks. This beaver looks SO much like our ‘Dad’ beaver that I nearly spat out my coffee. I know beavers look mostly like other beavers, but Dad has always had such pronounced ‘teddy bear’ ears he’s been fairly unique. Apparently not any more!
A final discovery this weekend comes out of Connecticut, where some buddies were apparently camping near a beaver dam and had the idea to make a beer that embodied the hard-working/hard-playing beaver spirit! No, really. Click on the photo to go to their delightful website and make sure you suggest a tagline! Of course I already asked them to sponsor the festival and suggested ‘Beer that’s Worth A Dam’. I’ll let you know what happens!
