WEST ROXBURY — It appears to be the chiseled handiwork of an ace axman: Tree after tree along the water’s edge in Millennium Park felled by a clean v-cut.
But it is no rogue Christmas tree cutter. It’s beavers.
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WEST ROXBURY — It appears to be the chiseled handiwork of an ace axman: Tree after tree along the water’s edge in Millennium Park felled by a clean v-cut.
But it is no rogue Christmas tree cutter. It’s beavers.
Comments
I hope the cranberry bogs can figure out some way to prevent beavers from harming their water systems, because I know what a great job beavers can do to re-create the wetlands we so urgently need. I would really hate to see these wonderful creatures destroyed again.
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Protecting wildlife can have bad consequences. We have protected seals so their population grows and attracts sharks who then attack Atlantic swimmers. Conservation is a good principle but not always good in practice.
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To whom do you refer when you say "their"? The seals? The sharks? The human swimmers? Why are your comments often so nasty? Anger management problems?
As June Cleaver once said, " I think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night, Ward."
I don't want to see tehm destroyed either, WomanofBoston, but in another ten years there won't be any trees along the walking bank of Millennium Park. I hope the City has a plan for that. (Fat chance.)
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Dear lesvalseuses, My mother always said you can say something nicely, or not. Of course I've "noticed" that trees "reproduce" as you put it. I'm not an expert, but at the rate they are being cut down, and going simply on the rate of growth of the tree I planted five years ago, I'd guess that it will take many many decades for trees to reach the maturity of the trees being cut down, if ever. Happy Holidays.
Is there much of a market for beaverskin hats? There was in the 19th century, and the beaver population in the human suburbs seems to have receded significantly.
This is not a conservation vs. non-conservation issue. It is a wildlife management issue. Professional wildlife management of these animals was essentially thrown out the window with the so-called Beaver Bill and now we are all living with the results.
I grew up in Wilbraham, MA in a rural section of town. Beavers started showing up at the local brook about 25 years ago. They dammed the culvert and the roadway washed away. I think town employees tried to destroy the dam, but it didn't matter. The beavers promptly rebuilt it. I understand that beavers will only remain at one location for about 5 years. Well, this family of beavers eventually left and left behind a very nice wetland.
Here's a story...A beaver climbed out of the Quabog River in Bondsville, MA. It crossed the street and went into a liquor store. The door was open - it was summer. It knocked over a few displays until the owner chased the thing out of the store. Unfortunately, it got hit by a car heading back to the river. When they weighed it...110 lbs.
I visit Millennium Park daily and have for ten years. There aren't so many there that they would upset the balanceof nature and their work is fascinating to watch. We park regulars seem to love watching them build up their sites and there's something new to see every day.
Besides, beavers were here in New England before we were.