KINGS BEACH, Calif. — Wildlife agents used rifles in early October to hunt, shoot and kill four beavers that had built three different dams at the mouth of Griff Creek on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, a Placer County official confirmed last week.
Thanks to Matt Renda at the Sierra sun we now learn that the four beavers killed near the Kings beach Co-op daycare were actually shot, not trapped, which explains why some workers claimed they saw blood in the area.
“Trapping presents some logistical problems, so we hunted the beavers,” said Josh Huntsinger, commissioner of the Placer County Department of Agriculture. “Licensed wildlife specialists shot and killed them,” he said. “They are trained professionals.” Huntsinger said the hunt was carried out after dark with special equipment to ensure no residents were endangered by the operation. “We evaluate the park to identify the exact point where the operation can be carried out safely,” he said. “My wildlife specialists receive 30 hours of training per year regarding hunt operations such as this. I have complete confidence in their abilities.”
Logistical problems? Really? What, no one had waterproof shoes? I didn’t realize that killing beavers was such hard work. It happens so often you’d think its like falling off a log. Come to think of it that must be why there was so little of it in done in the 1800’s. And by the way, is that really your name? Or did you pick it like an actor or a porn star. Josh Huntsinger? Tell me the truth, was “Ivan Wannashoot” already taken?
The Placer County Flood Control Agency obtained a depredation permit from California Department of Fish and Game to carry out the hunt, Huntsinger said.
Honestly, does Fish & Game even do anything else but issue licenses to kill? Maybe they should change their name to the Department of Depredation? Can’t you see it now, lots of men in the dark with their night vision goggles playing ‘Rambo‘ with the beavers. I guess someone must have found some waterproof shoes because they had to have dragged the bodies out before tossing them into the back of the truck for incineration.
I wonder what that night was like for the surviving members of the colony, ducking into the lodge and hearing bullets whiz by. Then coming out later and finding that your entire family is gone, Island of the Blue Dophins, notwithstanding. Well we know there were surviving members because one was just seen a few nights ago, Denise tells me. Lets hope it’s a parent or a yearling who can help take care of the few kits that are still hanging around. Gosh, you’d think that ‘experts’ at wildlife removal would actually remove wildlife. I guess they never took the time to watch the colony and learn how many beavers were actually there.
Well, Placer County should not despair. Where there’s one beaver there will be more. Where there’s any willingness on the part of public works to look for solutions, there are solutions to be found. I was forwarded also a letter from a Placer County Supervisor that said this happened while they were on vacation but will NEVER happen again. Denise is convinced things will get better, and I remain cautiously hopeful that the greater Tahoe Community can preserve its watershed stewards and prove, once and for all, that it’s smarter than a beaver.
