While the Town of Drumheller has taken aim at coyotes in the town’s vicinity, they are now turning their sights on beavers along the Red Deer River.
Mayor Terry Yemen has been in contact with the Alberta Trappers Association to ask about decreasing the number of dam building critters that's population, according to Yemen, is out of control.
“I spent a lot of time on the river and years ago I hunted beaver and we had a good healthy population back then, but it is no where near what it is like now,” said Yemen. “They will basically eat themselves out of house and home and it eliminates all of our trees.”
Yemen is a director on the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group and was supported by the group in contacting the Trappers Association. The association was not specifically to look at having someone trap, but more to gain a lobbying partner in taking the problem to the Alberta Government to address the issue.
To solve the problem of an out of control beaver population, according to Yemen is not as simple as hunting them.
“I have been trying for two years to get something done. They are a fur bearing animal so they have some protection, you can’t just go out and shoot them, you need a permit,” said Yemen.
He said that they can issue permits to hunt or trap them, however the animals cannot simply be disposed of. The fur has to be properly processed. The problem is that the market for beaver pelts is weak.
Jim Mitchell of the Alberta Trappers Association agrees the market is soft and if left unchecked the beavers can do significant damage.
“I agree that the current low price of beaver is the root of your problems. If beavers are not controlled they will certainly alter the landscape, often causing much damage by flooding and tree removal and in addition with high populations they are often susceptible to a bacterial disease called Tularemia which can cause problems to humans and water quality,” he said in correspondence with Mayor Yemen.
Mitchell says the association is supportive.
“I applaud your efforts to bring this issue to the government and unfortunately moral support is about all we can give at this time… The government of Alberta is well aware of our concerns which echo yours however no one seems willing to put up some funds to make management viable,” he states.
Mayor Yemen said they have brought their concerns to the local MLA.
“I sent it to Rick Strankman because lack of action by the government is his thing,” said Yemen.
