Beaver Background

Since the most recent live trapping of the beavers (and nutria) from the greenbelt area of the HOA, I have reviewed some of the information that was considered by the board leading up to their decision.

First, the cost for this (to date) is $1,150.00 that we homeowners paid to have the beavers removed.

Second, the board were advised by two different reputable organizations to consider other means than live trapping. One organization, 911 Wildlife, suggested that the board consider the use of "beaver paint" to be applied to the trees, and which is an effective tool to dissuade beavers from attacking trees (the paint is used in place of chicken wire). The second organization, The Texas Department of Wildlife, suggested that the board use chicken wire to protect any trees within the area. Both of these suggestions appear to have been ignored by the board.

Third, in choosing to utilitize a live trapper, the board received the following information from Cliff Moore about the "benefits" of live trapping. Cliff wrote:

"Your land and the surrounding region is a dedicated human use area. There is no future for the beavers or their babies in this dedicated human use area."

Mr Moore went on to advise that in "our part of Texas beaver babies are born around the 3rd week of March" and then proceeded to advise the board (incorrectly) that:

"In your area, the greenbelt mitigation plans are designed for humans and do not provide the diversity or room for expansion of a breeding beaver population."

Both of these assertions by Mr. Moore are wrong, however neither of these appear to have been challenged by any member of the board. The mitigation plan was put in place to protect nature (hence the requiremen for the greenbelt to be a deeded nature preserve), and Mr Moore's assertions should have been corrected at the time of this information being provided.

Finally, Mr Moore goes on to make the following stateement:

"Our native wildlife are under assault from the uninformed and have recently been designated a pest by the Structural Pest Control Service as of December 11, 2008."

Does anyone actually know what that means? I've gone to the Texas Department of Agriculture's website (the main department that houses the Structural Pest Control Service) and not found any reference to this new designation. Is Mr Moore actually saying that this government body is uninformed? Perhaps that board has more information on what this means.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.