April 24, 1974 (8 pages)

. Beavste pond con from P. 5) however, into what Dick Wagner describes as a ‘‘vicious circle.” Beavers multiply quickly and force the young beavers, called kits, out of their homes when they reach the age of two years. The young beavers, consequently, move across country in search of a suitable place in which to start a home of their own. The quick multiplication of the small animals can lead to numerous problems. Wagner cited a group of beavers that established their lair in the ponds near Alta Sierra a few years ago. He said that as long as only a few beavers lived in the ponds no problems existed but, when the off-spring began to move down the watercourses in search of new residences,problems did begin to arise. . Beavers, commented Wagner, never seem to be quite satisfied with the level of ponds when they move in. They plug spillways and water courses in an effort to change the environment to. suit themselves. A consequence of the ambitious animals’ work is damage to farm ponds and earthfill dams. Beavers filled the waterways and ponds near Alta Sierra with such a maze of beaver-works that the animals had to be removed. In the past, explained Wagner, the Department of Fish and Game moved beavers to other locations, using traps that would not injure the animals. Once moved, however, the multiplication process began once again and the two-yearolds were off across country ~ establishing new home sites. Soon the young adventuresome ‘beavers had _ established themselves on privately-owned property and were busying themselves by falling privatelyowned trees. ‘We may have no place to move them,’’ commented Wagner. Beavers moved into areas where beavers are presently doing well, usually in the higher regions of the county, find that all suitable ponds have been claimed by, earlier residents. Consequently they have to shuffle-off in search of homes, eventually moving, once again, into privately-owned property. A policy, consequently, has been established by the Department of Fish and Game to no longer transport the animals to new sites, said Wagner, and trappers are called in to of the beavers. . Wagner stated that drowning traps in use by trappers are a humane way of killing beavers. The beaver is trapped and, when it dives to deep water, a slide device on the trap prevents the animal from. surfacing and ‘drowning results. Ellinger claims he saw the 12 beavers working in and along ‘ the edge of his pond Thursday stated’ that he saw the in the branches of trees cine, Hopefully an area in the state ‘will be found where the beavers can be relocated but,. according to Wagner, Nevada County may have reached an optimum level for its beaver population, It may’ — animals, be that the -small. rebuilding their numbers from the brink of extinction, have now filled. every available pond and watercourse in the county. Ellinger said he will delay his plans to shoot the animals until Tuesday morning when, it is hoped, Wagner may have an answer to the questian’ of whether or not the animals can be moved. The history of the beaver on the American continent is an interesting one. . . ~~ The human onslaught against beavers began in the early 1600’s when trappers crossed the American continent in search of the animal for its fur and a secretion from the animal’s glands called castoreum. The Hudson’s Bay Company, chartered in 1670 to trade in New World furs, sold nearly three million beaver pelts between 1853 and 1877. Profits to trappers were tremendously high, with one trapper earning $50,000 in a single year. The beaver was in great demand in European markets where’ the local beaver population had been hunted to the edge of extinction. Discevery of beavers in the New World led to an enormous demand for beaver pelts and the secretion castoreum, considered a medical cure-all for ailments ranging from the gout to hysteria. Castoreum contains salicylic acid, one of the main ingredients in aspirin. Castoreum is also used as a fixative in perfumes. In recent years, however, a decline in the ‘popularity of beaver coats and hats and an upsurge. of interest in conservation has allowed beavers to rebuild their population. It is now generally agreed that the animal will be around to be enjoyed by future generations. The beaver and the capybara of South America are the largest rodents in the world. A common beaver weighs about one pound at birth and grows to an average adult weight of 30 to 70 pounds. Beavers never stop growing, however, and can reach a weight of 100 pounds. The . largest capybaras also reach 100 pounds, Beavers are capable of cutting through trees 30 inches in diameter and can cut a 2% inch limb in. 30\seconds. The beaver has four curved incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout the animal’s life. The upper incisors work against the lower and are continually sharpened by the action. Two protective flaps of skin behind the incisors close in front of the throat to prevent the animal from swallowing water or wood chips — while working under water. tpi satel thre BOSE APU incite eR Bn Sesame mera A PARTIALLY FELLED tree stands along the edge of Ellinger's pond. Beavers have been cutting trees along the pond's edge and Ellinger fears they. may damage most of the surrounding vegetation. SAVING ENERGY IS IMPORTANT. All PG&E electric customers get . much of their electricity from ‘power plants fueled by scarce oil and natural gas. Because every PG&E generating plant is part of a vast integrated power. system, all customers share in the power generated by hydroelectric, fossil-fueled, geothermal and nuclear plants. Customers living near hydro-electric plants get no:more of their electricity from hydropower (nor less from fossil-fueled steam power) than other customers living near fossil-fueled steam-electric plants. Sowhenthereis a shortage from any power source, all customers are affected. That’s why during the ‘etl fuel shortage it’s important for everyone —no matter where you live— to help save energy wherever possible. — PGE

. Beavste pond con from P. 5) however, into what Dick Wagner describes as a ‘‘vicious circle.” Beavers multiply quickly and force the young beavers, called kits, out of their homes when they reach the age of two years. The young beavers, consequently, move across country in search of a suitable place in which to start a home of their own. The quick multiplication of the small animals can lead to numerous problems. Wagner cited a group of beavers that established their lair in the ponds near Alta Sierra a few years ago. He said that as long as only a few beavers lived in the ponds no problems existed but, when the off-spring began to move down the watercourses in search of new residences,problems did begin to arise. . Beavers, commented Wagner, never seem to be quite satisfied with the level of ponds when they move in. They plug spillways and water courses in an effort to change the environment to. suit themselves. A consequence of the ambitious animals’ work is damage to farm ponds and earthfill dams. Beavers filled the waterways and ponds near Alta Sierra with such a maze of beaver-works that the animals had to be removed. In the past, explained Wagner, the Department of Fish and Game moved beavers to other locations, using traps that would not injure the animals. Once moved, however, the multiplication process began once again and the two-yearolds were off across country ~ establishing new home sites. Soon the young adventuresome ‘beavers had _ established themselves on privately-owned property and were busying themselves by falling privatelyowned trees. ‘We may have no place to move them,’’ commented Wagner. Beavers moved into areas where beavers are presently doing well, usually in the higher regions of the county, find that all suitable ponds have been claimed by, earlier residents. Consequently they have to shuffle-off in search of homes, eventually moving, once again, into privately-owned property. A policy, consequently, has been established by the Department of Fish and Game to no longer transport the animals to new sites, said Wagner, and trappers are called in to of the beavers. . Wagner stated that drowning traps in use by trappers are a humane way of killing beavers. The beaver is trapped and, when it dives to deep water, a slide device on the trap prevents the animal from. surfacing and ‘drowning results. Ellinger claims he saw the 12 beavers working in and along ‘ the edge of his pond Thursday stated’ that he saw the in the branches of trees cine, Hopefully an area in the state ‘will be found where the beavers can be relocated but,. according to Wagner, Nevada County may have reached an optimum level for its beaver population, It may’ — animals, be that the -small. rebuilding their numbers from the brink of extinction, have now filled. every available pond and watercourse in the county. Ellinger said he will delay his plans to shoot the animals until Tuesday morning when, it is hoped, Wagner may have an answer to the questian’ of

whether or not the animals can be moved. The history of the beaver on the American continent is an interesting one. . . ~~ The human onslaught against beavers began in the early 1600’s when trappers crossed the American continent in search of the animal for its fur and a secretion from the animal’s glands called castoreum. The Hudson’s Bay Company, chartered in 1670 to trade in New World furs, sold nearly three million beaver pelts between 1853 and 1877. Profits to trappers were tremendously high, with one trapper earning $50,000 in a single year. The beaver was in great demand in European markets where’ the local beaver population had been hunted to the edge of extinction. Discevery of beavers in the New World led to an enormous demand for beaver pelts and the secretion castoreum, considered a medical cure-all for ailments ranging from the gout to hysteria. Castoreum contains salicylic acid, one of the main ingredients in aspirin. Castoreum is also used as a fixative in perfumes. In recent years, however, a decline in the ‘popularity of beaver coats and hats and an upsurge. of interest in conservation has allowed beavers to rebuild their population. It is now generally agreed that the animal will be around to be enjoyed by future generations. The beaver and the capybara of South America are the largest rodents in the world. A common beaver weighs about one pound at birth and grows to an average adult weight of 30 to 70 pounds. Beavers never stop growing, however, and can reach a weight of 100 pounds. The . largest capybaras also reach 100 pounds, Beavers are capable of cutting through trees 30 inches in diameter and can cut a 2% inch limb in. 30\seconds. The beaver has four curved incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout the animal’s life. The upper incisors work against the lower and are continually sharpened by the action. Two protective flaps of skin behind the incisors close in front of the throat to prevent the animal from swallowing water or wood chips — while working under water. tpi satel thre BOSE APU incite eR Bn Sesame mera A PARTIALLY FELLED tree stands along the edge of Ellinger's pond. Beavers have been cutting trees along the pond's edge and Ellinger fears they. may damage most of the surrounding vegetation. SAVING ENERGY IS IMPORTANT. All PG&E electric customers get . much of their electricity from ‘power plants fueled by scarce oil and natural gas. Because every PG&E generating plant is part of a vast integrated power. system, all customers share in the power generated by hydroelectric, fossil-fueled, geothermal and nuclear plants. Customers living near hydro-electric plants get no:more of their electricity from hydropower (nor less from fossil-fueled steam power) than other customers living near fossil-fueled steam-electric plants. Sowhenthereis a shortage from any power source, all customers are affected. That’s why during the ‘etl fuel shortage it’s important for everyone —no matter where you live— to help save energy wherever possible. — PGE