You would think, wouldn’t you, that a city spitting distance from arguably the most famous beavers in Canada, just 7 miles away from Olympic village where beavers have gotten famous for pictures like the one you see, you would think any city so close to smart answers would be, well SMART, right?

But you’d be wrong. Because Burnaby just has no fricking idea what to do to live with beavers. And their loud whining can be heard all across her majesty’s Great White North.

Damn beavers from destroying Deer Lake forest

Beavers are one of Canada’s great creatures. They are on our money and in our hearts – unless they are cutting down certain types of trees in Burnaby.

The City of Burnaby has taken steps to stop beavers from gnawing down trees around Deer Lake. Fencing has been erected around trees in the area, including sequoias and purple beech, according to photos submitted by Burnaby nature photographer John Preissl.

Um. Guess which are bigger Burnaby. Beavers or Chickens? Do you think this measily wire unattached to a stake is going to keep a 50 lb beaver from just leaning on that fence until they can nibble? I sure don’t.

Preissl regularly photographs around Deer Lake and monitors the wildlife. He says some of the trees can be used by Eagles.

“The beavers got a few more of the trees under the Eagle perch tree overnight,” he said. “One of the downed trees is partially blocking the boardwalk near the Hart House (restaurant) … the brand new cedars and firs have almost all been taken down by the beavers. Maybe time for some fencing around the few remaining?”

Preissl said that he contacted the city and a staff member was immediately sent to take down the tree blocking the boardwalk around the lake and that had created a safety hazard.

Oh NO! The important eagle won’t have ANY where to land when those mean beavers take down that tree. Or anything to eat when all the animals thriving at a beaver pond stop getting a feast of insects or little fish.

Better kill the beaver to save the eagle. That sounds downright American! It’s what they’d do in Montana for sure.

Park Board continues discussion of beavers on Beaver Creek Park

Hill County Park Board met Monday and discussed beaver management options and beaver trapping reports, as well as group reports.

Fran Buell of Gildford provided a beaver damage control report for the board.

“The trappers are now going to concentrate on new areas where they feel, through observation of current beaver activities — i.e. lodge building, dam building, cut down trees and scent mounds — indicate the need to remove the beaveer before more extensive damage is done,” a report presented by Buell said.

Look just because it’s called beaver creek doesn’t mean we want beavers in our creek! Smack dab in the middle of the state, we have places for camping and fishing and NO PLACES for beavers. Do you hear me?

Buell said that in December and January only three beavers were removed due to the weather, lack of ice and other factors, such as previous beaver removal in the area, 2-year-old beavers leaving the colony and human presence, are more than likely the reason for the low number.

She added that the total number of beavers that have been removed by the Montana Trappers Association since the trapping started in October is 25.

Good lord. The area is kind of a highway for beavers. but 25 since October is a high number. Three families. That’s a grim thought. On the bright side the trappers might be exaggerating their success. That’s comforting.

The board also discussed possible alternative beaver management options with park board member Renelle Braaten. She said she has been in contact with the Humane Society of the United States Wildlife Response and Policy Senior Adviser Dave Pauli and provided a report that said he is working with some foundations and non-profits to come up with some plans to teach people in the community more about beavers.

His report said he has reached out to two beaver experts in Montana because they were excited to learn about opportunities to potentially have a co-existence demonstration project in Montana and the opportunity to have a regional workshop here as well.

“He’s pretty excited about it, and I’m pretty excited about it,” Braaten said. “I think it would be excellent for our park not only to do some things out there that would be good for the park, but also I know (board chair Steve Mariani) said at a meeting once it could be a viewing area and that’s a possibility is what it sounded like to me.”

Mariani was not at Monday’s meeting.

Pauli said groups like the Defenders of Wildlife and National Resources Defense Council, which also have employed the two beaver expert biologists, had quickly signed on to potentially provide a training conference in Havre for any state, federal, non-governmental organization and private parties that want to learn more about beavers.

Bratten added that nothing is written in stone, but she wanted to provide an update.

You mean actual wildlife for people to see in a park? Get out! What a novel idea! And great numbers of fish and birds because of the invertebrate changes beavers bring? Wow! That’s something,

It takes a steady soul like Dave Pauli to bring new ideas to Montana. I might just be whacking every one in the head with rolled up newspapers.