‘There had to be a better way’: Anger after beavers killed at Waukesha County park
CBS 58 BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) - The killing of two beavers at a Waukesha County park is drawing criticism from parkgoers who say officials should have found a way to protect the park without killing the animals.
The beavers were at Fox Brook Park in Brookfield, where visitors could see their lodge along a peninsula. That lodge is now empty after Waukesha County trapped and killed the two animals.
The county said the beavers had taken down trees and chewed through others. Officials said protecting shoreline trees is important to prevent erosion and keep beaver burrows from undermining a nearby paved trail.
But Amy Mueller, a parkgoer who specializes in beaver education and outreach, said there were other ways to address the damage.
“If it was downed trees, they could cage around specific big trees they don't want the beavers to bother, or they can have a paint mixture with sand that can be painted on the trees that makes it undesirable for the beavers to chew on,” Mueller said.
Mueller said the beavers were part of what made Fox Brook Park a special place to visit.
“I’m a park pass owner, and by losing the ability to come out here and see beavers, I think it devalues the experience,” she said.
Mueller pointed to Wehr Nature Center, which has beavers.
Amy Mueller
“Wehr Nature Center has beavers now, and they’re using it as an opportunity to educate the public, and I hope in the future Waukesha County Parks can embrace the beavers and find coexistence,” Mueller said.
Waukesha County Director of Parks and Land Use Dale Shaver said in a statement saying:
“We understand the concerns surrounding their removal and want to emphasize these decisions are never made lightly.
The shoreline has very limited space between the water and adjacent paved trail, making the trees especially important to protecting the lake shoreline and not having erosion or burrowing undermine the trail. With extensive experience managing beaver activity throughout our park and highway systems, we understand the challenges and costs associated with this damage.
We consider many alternatives before making the decision to dispatch an animal, including relocation and water-level control. While these approaches have been used at other locations, they were not appropriate or effective given the conditions at Fox Brook Park. Each situation is carefully evaluated, taking into account available management options, staff resources, and financial considerations.
We will continue working with subject matter experts and exploring responsible wildlife management practices to protect and preserve our parks and natural resources.”
For more information about beavers, nonlethal solutions and ways to address conflicts with beavers, CLICK HERE.
