Date: Fri 20-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

beavers-Schaedler-Tani

Full Text:

Beaver Deaths Shock Homeowners

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Tom Schaedler said he couldn't believe his eyes when he looked out his window

late last week and saw a man clubbing two beavers to death.

Mr Schaedler and his wife, Angie, live near a wetlands area off Alberts Hill

Road, one of many areas in Newtown where beavers are creating a nuisance. The

busy beavers build their dams with muck, sticks and twigs, clogging drainage

pipes.

Mrs Schaedler, who was also home at the time, videotaped the unidentified man

carrying the dead beavers to his truck.

"I don't think the Humane Society would be too happy about this," Mr Schaedler

said.

Thirty minutes later, the town's highway department reportedly showed up at

the swamp to break up the dams. The Schaedlers said they wondered if the man

who clubbed the beavers was working for the town. He was not, according to

Highway Department Supervisor Joe Tani. However, Mr Tani said residents have

every right to rid their property of the animals, even kill them. However,

they must notify the state before receiving permission. He said homeowners are

supposed to use "quick kill" traps and should not "club" the beavers.

"We break up dams once or twice a week, depending on the amount of rain fall

we get," he said.