No ‘refuge’ for beavers at Lee Metcalf Refuge

By Kimi Smith, Stevensville

The Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for wildlife. A place to go and enjoy.

I walked on Kenai Trail and hoped to see a beaver. They are so neat to see and watch when they have a lodge and kits.

Beavers take down trees and use them to eat and build their lodges and dams so they have their terriotory.

I haven’t seen one since last fall. I have seen what they do and it ended. I walked to a blind where they usually are. I saw something in the water close to land. I went over to it and it was a beaver – trapped and dead in the water.

I was shocked. I threw up, It was awful to see. I know that beaver suffered.

I let them know at the refuge office. They said they had arranged for a trapper to come in and do this. They feel if a beaver interferes with their ability to manage water levels for ducks, then they have to take action.

Why kill beavers instead of relocating them? Money? Work to be done costs money too, either way.

The trapper was to come and get the beaver early and didn’t. I saw it. I have photos of it – trapped and dead. The beaver was 7-8 years old.

I have been a volunteer at the refuge for nearly four years, but now I’ve quit. I will not be involved with the killing of wildlife, ever, on a refuge that’s a sanctuary. What’s next to be killed? Ducks love beaver ponds. Nature has its own course. People can take advantage of it and change it their way and misalign the natural ways of nature.

There is no reason beavers have to be killed – none.

We don’t’ get to see them now. They are dead, thanks to the arrangement to have it done.

All of you who did this and continue to do it must live with your horrific actions and do not forget it!

Shame on you!