Princeton is having one of those weeks and it’s only Tuesday. Check out this letter from local naturalist and blogger Carolyn Edelman:
As a naturalist who writes on and photographs New Jersey nature in our region, I vehemently oppose the recent killing of two beavers in our community. I find it hard to believe that officials can justify slaughtering two such splendid animals on Friday (the 13th!) in Pettoranello Gardens.
We are no better than Chicago and its cougar, purportedly slain because “it was not accustomed to humans.” What is the meaning of the word “preserve” in the name Mountain Lakes Preserve, if it is not a haven for nature’s creatures? Mayor Goerner has demanded an investigation — which is appropriate. But it cannot restore wild lives.
I maintain the nature blog, NJ WILD for the Packet Publications. From earliest days, it has been greatly enhanced by splendid photographs by artist, Brenda Jones. I met Brenda and her husband, Cliff, when we were all three seeking beavers above the aqueduct on the D&R Canal. NJ WILD would be much the poorer without the presence of her art. Our friendship and creative partnership started in another park, a state park, where beavers, and even wildflowers, are purportedly protected.If Princeton is not safe for beavers, is anywhere?
As I understand it, this act took place in daylight with walkers on Mountain Lakes “preserve” trails. Is Princeton safe, then, for humans?
Nature is under sufficient assault from developers and climate change, without adding bullets to the mix. I, too, am outraged.
Carolyn Edelman, Princeton
Good work, Carolyn. It is worth going to check out the beaver memorial on her blog. I heard from Sarah at the Unexpected Wildlife Refuge that she would be driving down to Princeton this week to check things out. She is having no luck getting the attention of the powers that be but maybe this letter in the neighboring paper from a familiar face will help.
Dam-smart animal control can handle beavers
It is unfortunate that Princeton Animal Control Officer Mark Johnson found it necessary to shoot beavers illegally (“Outrage over shooting of Princeton beavers — Neighbors say park animals should have been relocated, not killed,” May 20), drawing uncomfortable attention to the city when real answers are 75 miles away.
Killing beavers is a short-term solution and a waste of taxpayer dollars — even if he had avoided bad publicity by using a trap. The Unexpected Wildlife Refuge in Newfield could teach the Princeton Animal Control Office what it needs to know about humane beaver management that works. Beavers are a keystone species, so finding inexpensive ways to tolerate their presence, prevent flooding and protect trees is an investment in the community and the watershed.
More important, it is extremely unlikely that Mr. Johnson was fortunate enough to shoot the father and mother beaver still pregnant with her unborn kits. Since it’s May, those kits have probably already been born, which means they are starving in the lodge without parents. I assume it is worth the township’s time to send a competent biologist to walk the area and make sure that isn’t the next story that hits the newspapers.
Any animal control office smarter than a beaver can keep a beaver — and knows why it should.
Heidi Perryman, Ph.D., Martinez, Calif. The writer is president and founder of Worth A Dam (martinezbeavers.org/wordpress).Remember, Princeton, that New Jersey is the famous state where a beaver outcry in Knowlton caused such a stir it showed up in the New York Times. Martinez didn’t even do that. The end result was that the animals got to stay and the Mayor decreed that one day every year the Deputy Mayor had to dress up in a beaver costume to conduct official business.
Be careful, Princeton, or you could be next.
On a final note, GOOD LUCK TO OUR BEAVER FRIENDS Leonard & Lois Houston who will be at Oregon State University presenting today at the Oregon Watershed Conference on the value of beavers as a restorative tool. They’ll be joined by their hydrologist buddy Suzanne Fouty, and we wish them a roomful of converts! Go team beaver!
