Cochrane’s beaver management has its challenges
The Town of Cochrane is asking Cochranites who peruse the pathways to be mindful of signage indicating beaver management (trapping) in areas throughout the Ranche Site and Glenbow this fall season.
See? I told you the phrase “beaver management” is a euphemism for murder. Like “Ethnic Cleansing”, “the Jewish Problem”, or “Manifest Destiny.”
According to Gerry Murphy, parks manager for the town, when town staff observes beaver damming occurring, they reach out to town-contracted Eagle Creek Wildlife Control; the town has managed beavers within the town for many years.
Eagle Creek sends out licensed trappers to identify areas to set live and lethal traps and the town assists with signage.
“When the beavers are trapped, they come out and remove them,” said Murphy, adding that people should avoid going near the traps and keep dogs leashed in areas where signage indicates beaver trapping is ongoing.
Ron Hanson started Eagle Creek some 20 years ago, followed by 30 years of service as a Fish and Wildlife officer.
He is no stranger to beavers, also known as ‘the largest North American rodent’, and the extensive damage they can cause — including damming culverts, softening road beds and railroad tracks and removing trees.
Hanson said his trappers set both live and lethal traps but that beavers are managed through euthanization — which he said is the most humane form of management.
“From a moral standpoint, moving (relocating) beavers at this time of the year is just not an option,” he said, explaining that the beaver population is at an all-time high.
If there’s one thing I value, it’s the moral teachings of a trapper and ex-game warden.
Never mind that Cochrane is about three hours away from Dr. Glynnis Hood who is the premiere beaver researcher in the entire world. Never mind that her students are doing beaver management in Alberta and you could be next if you weren’t so beaver-dam stubborn. Never mind that if you kept these beavers in your creeks using mitigation you’d never have to hire Ron again to solve this problem, because they’d be using their own territorial behaviors to keep others away. And you’d have more fish and wildlife (oh, and water) in your town.
Honestly, sometimes all I can think of is Gollum, writhing with pain at the elven ropes crying “It hurts us! [the beaver stupidity], it hurts us,’ hissed Gollum. `It freezes, it bites!”
“In my opinion, the town parks department has done a spectacular job of beaver management in the Town of Cochrane over the past 20 or more years,” said Guy Woods, director of Bow Valley Habitat Development.
Hanson said they use the beaver carcasses to supply bear bait for local Fish and Wildlife officers.
Then there’s this today from Belllefontaine, Ohio. You just know this ended well.
____________________________________________________
The saving grace good news is that I got a surprise present from Fur-bearer Defenders Radio yesterday I just had to share. It’s part of the most recent episode with very famous psychologist and eminently published author Marc Berkoff (who writes about animal feelings and feelings for animals in Psychology Today among other places). The interview starts by proclaiming the successful launch of their podcast. The very cool part is that I had sent Dr. Berkoff my own modest interview a while back and he had politely responded that he was interested in listening but never had time to do it. (Poor Heidi. Not even a beaver bridesmaid!) I knew it would be relevant but even I can’t chase a man more thank twice, so I had given up making my debut as a beaver-saving psychologist.
But now Fur-bearer Defenders is doing it for me right in Marc’s episode!
Oh and he’s donating a copy of his new book “Rewilding our Hearts” for the silent auction.
