Letter to the Editor - Some questions about Beaver Deceivers

Editor,

I have been following the debate over the beaver situation in our Hill County Beaver Creek Park. We are losing a tremendous amount of trees and access to the creek itself by a common rodent. The beaver. Now that the anti-trapping people and other humane special interest groups have been called to graciously help solve our problem there have been many questions left unanswered.

1. How much will these Beaver Deceivers, pond levelers, cost? (I was told it was $12-15,000 each.

2. What is the effective range of a Beaver Deceiver and how many will it take to cover the trouble area?

3.  Who is going to pay the price of these magical beaver foolers. This park belongs to Hill County. So, I think you know.

4. Whose responsibility will it be to maintain “magical” devices?

I will not take up any of your valuable time on the history and chronological factual information of the impact trapping has been for our state. I will say that this furbearing game animal can be properly maintained by conventional trapping methods.

Is trapping a painful, horrid death as claimed by Ms. York and her side kick, Ms. Braaten? I can’t say. I have never talked to a beaver to ask them how they feel about trappers.

Please do not let this Trap Free Montana organization fool you.

It’s not just about trapping. They want to take your hunting and fishing privileges away as well.

Think about this. If you have a piece of ground that deer and elk are raising havoc on, should the fish and game set up “deceivers” or issue extra “B” tags or damage hunt permits?

In conclusion I would like anyone interested in learning more about “your” park, to please attend the next meeting when announced.

Jeff C. Dibblee

Hill County voter, taxpayer, conservationist