This letter was copied to The Chief for publication.
Mayor and council,
The Squamish Environmental Conservation Society would like to voice our objection to the recent trapping and killing of beavers in our community.
Culling the beavers is an extreme solution and we do not condone this practice without addressing all available options. For all their faults, beavers create wonderful wetlands and animal habitat, and far more effectively than any humans with all their vast knowledge.
The question is how many beavers can an area support, how much flooding can be tolerated and how to best manage that balance.
We know this is not a black and white issue and are trying to understand why the district felt trapping was the only solution. We have examples of both baffles and beaver proof culverts operating successfully in our community. Without more information it is hard to understand the recent slaughter. With that in mind we are requesting information and answers.
We assume that the district has put together a beaver management plan based on an assessment by a credited biologist or consultant, including recommendations on how many are in the area and how best to manage them.
We would like to see a copy of this report. We would also like to know what alternatives were considered and why they were rejected. Was baffling and beaver proofing culverts even discussed prior to hiring a trapper?
Research shows that trapping is not the most economical form of beaver control. What was the cost of alternatives vs. trapping? Licensed urban trappers are expensive and we would like to know the cost of this management option.
We would also like to know how long this trapping has been going on and if it will be an ongoing yearly operation as it is in the GVRD. Is the trapping in a specific area of concern or distributed throughout the community.
The district handled this operation in secrecy and we hate to think Squamish is following in the GVRD footsteps and declaring open season on beavers.
They are exceptional creatures and if we can find a way to co-exist, the community will be all the richer for it.
We look forward to receipt of the requested information.
Mary Mitchell
Squamish Environmental Conservation Society
