Hard rains have forced Lega’s beavers out of their lodge at the park and downstream to a pond behind the post office. Her dedication remains undaunted and she sent this copy of a recent letter to the city engineer.
As you have probably deduced, the Shorey Park beavers abandoned their lodge when it got flooded and have now built a dam and an odd sized lodge across Willett Brook next to the Post Office. This is causing considerable flooding to the rear of the Post Office. Although this new wetland has already attracted a flock of mallards, its location is obviously problematic. Instead of trapping the beavers for relocation or killing them, it is my hope that the town will consider using a flow device to stop the flooding. These devices require only wire fencing and piping and volunteers are willing to do the installation if the “go ahead” is given. Why not give it a try?
On another note, the beavers are not likely remain in this immediate area for long because by winter they will need to build a lodge with access to deeper water that remains unfrozen so that the food that they have stored on the pond’s bottom will be available. Since there has been a sighting of a beaver crossing Main Street by the Corn Shop Trading Company and another report of one on Depot Street, it is safe to assume that the beavers (probably a pair) are indeed looking for more permanent lodging.
Again, it is my hope that Bridgton’s Downtown Beavers will be protected and valued as a beneficial species. In Bridge Creek, Oregon, the National Park Service, NOAA-Fisheries, and the Bureau of Land Management have collaborated to build structures (vertical wood posts driven into the stream bottom) to encourage beaver dam creation so as to “accelerate stream recovery and improve production of the creek’s salmon population”. Beaver ponds in downtown Martinez, California, led to the return of steelhead trout, otters, herons, mink and tourists. Corvallis, Oregon has for many years been in constant battle with beavers whose dam building activities periodically flooded the softball fields in Sunset Park. Earlier this year, the city decided on a truce and is installing water leveling devices in order to “try and see if we can live with the beavers”. Countries such as Belgium and Sweden are known for their safari tours that highlight beavers, their dams and lodges.
After the most recent Ice Age, the industrious ancestors of Bridgton’s beavers were partly responsible for creating the landscape that we so love in the Lakes Region. Surely we can learn to co-exist with this watchable wildlife species by becoming more tolerant and by limiting beaver damage. Again, water leveling devices and wrapping favorite trees with galvanized welded wire (placed 6-12 inches out from the trunk and stand up about three feet high from the base of the trunk) are solutions that work in many communities..
The following websites, www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress, www.beaversww.org, and www.beaversolutions.com (read the testimonials) are excellent resources and I can also be reached if you have questions or need referrals.
Lega Medcalf
Let’s all keep our fingers crossed! And Lega you win the beaver advocacy prize for the year. Honestly, you’re the best!
