A day in the life…

Lake Terrapin girl, 5, rallies to save the beavers

: Montclair-area resident Abi Voss, 5, holds a pamphlet that she uses in her quest to save beavers who live in Lake Terrapin, which is loacted behind her home, from being killed. YOUTUBE

Hardened beaver advocate, Abi Voss, is marching door to door with a petition to save the beavers living in the lake in her backyard. Seems there were a family of 5 beavers paddling about and doing beaver-y things until the Terrapin Home Oweners Association got some complaints that they were eating her neighbors trees. They brought in a trapper who was able to kill three of the beavers, and Abi is trying to save the remaining two. The whole inspiring tale (tail?) is gently unfolded by reporter David Pierce here.

Now, remember, it’s June, so when Abi says they’re only “two beavers left” I’m inclined to think five or six, because there were almost certainly kits born this year that no one has seen yet – certainly not two weeks ago when the trapper was called in. Hopefully they’ll be old enough to survive without mom or Dad as long as there’s some family around. (Martinez knows all about that….) I’m sure that upon reflection the THOA will hope their contractor failed to kill two, so there’s someone left to take care of the young in the lodge. I wonder what kind of press adorable Abi would get if her sign said “Save the Orphans”.

Her Dad demonstrates that beaver advocates hail from sturdy stock:

Voss said that there are alternate ways of alleviating the problem without removing or killing the animals. He said beavers have left trees in his backyard alone after he surrounded them with chicken wire. “Chicken wire only cost me $5,” Voss said. “It is not a big expense.” Voss said that people like him who live near a watershed and a lake should plan to “live with nature” and expect to see creatures like beavers outdoors.

Father and daughter’s facebook page is here, in case you want to send some solidarity and love their way. I will be sending him the ‘painting trees with sand’ recipe forthwith. In the meantime, watch the adorable DVD and remember how powerful the voices of children can be. I can’t think of a better start to any campaign than this.