Last night Cheryl stopped down at the dam for her usual visit and found a family of five humans sprawled across the dam surface. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and two Children were fishing. They seemed surprised at the company and when Cheryl told them about the new baby beaver replied that they already knew about it and hoped they would see it. Clearly the notion of our lovely kit injured with fishing tackle had never entered their foggy minds, but they sheepishly left the dam and went to fish on the bridge. Their family was having an enjoyable outing, why think about the beaver family? Why think about the mountains of fishing tackle we remove every year from the banks?
Every summer I worry about fishing. People get excited about the idea of catching one of the carp at the beaver dam. They plan on releasing their catch so they feel they aren’t “impacting” the wildlife in any way. They don’t think about what happens when their hook or line snags on one of the million twigs or branches in the water. They don’t think about what happens when they cut the snag and leave the tangle of fishing wire for birds of beavers.
Fishing gear–related injuries in pinnipeds most commonly occurred in summer. Derelict fishing gear—lost, abandoned or discarded sport and commercial line, nets, traps, etc.—in the marine environment is a significant cause of injury in California coastal marine wildlife.
Fishing at the beaver pond is like trawling in an aquarium, playing soccer in the nursery or darts in an aviary. It’s like having target practice on the schoolyard. It’s very, very, very dangerous and something is certain to get hurt. It may not be the intention of anyone of these fishermen to harm wildlife, but the area is so small, so packed with birds, and so heavily trafficked there is no way it won’t. I have implored the city to do something about it, but the mayor only rubbed his hands together somewhat gleefully and answered that “Maybe the beavers will be victims of their own popularity”.
There is no city response to “shooting our fish” in this particular barrel. There is just us. There is only beaver people, the compassionate “minutemen” of Alhambra Creek. Worth A Dam needs your help to keep our adorable baby beaver safe. Explain the risks to anyone you see fishing, and tell folk to keep off the dams. Let us know when ever you see something worrisome and remember that your concern makes an enormous difference.
267 marine species have been reported to be affected by fishing gear entanglement and ingestion injuries.
Don’t let our beavers become 268.
