New Castle News

Local News

Discussion

February 3, 2010

Beavers posing problem on trail

By Debbie Wachter Morris

Eager beavers that have built dams along the Stavich Bike Trail may become angry beavers if the county stops them.

But the Lawrence County commissioners are undecided about how to remedy a problem of the animals building their structures up against a newly installed culvert pipe.

Doniele Andrus, the county�s greenways and trails coordinator, asked the commissioners Tuesday for money to hire Crit R Done, a licensed nuisance wildlife control company in Pulaski, to relocate and possibly kill some of the beavers that are causing the problem.

Improvements were made to the Union and Mahoning township sections of the Stavich trail last year, including installation of a new culvert pipe to control drainage. If the pipe keeps plugging up from the beaver dams, the trail will flood and eventually the pipe will erode, Andrus explained.

When the spring thaw arrives, the dam will wash away and fill in the culvert pipe with debris, and will block the water from flowing through it, she said.

The beavers have built dams in that locale twice and the county has removed them. However, if the beavers are not removed, she said, they will keep rebuilding the dam.

Andrus, who noted she has spoken with Wes Osborne, a trapper and owner of Crit R Done, said the planning staff wants to have the beaver colony relocated.

The animals cannot stay in the same watershed or they will find their way back to their native location, she explained.

Osborne�s intent is to trap the four �soldier� or worker beavers during the current trapping season that ends March 31. Then the rest of the colony � the grandfather, mother and young � will be moved to another watershed, with the help of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, she said.

She pointed out the cost of beaver pelts is down from $15 per fur to $2.50.

Commissioner Steve Craig asked Andrus how the planning department intends to pay for the relocation effort. She said there is no funding in the maintenance line item, so the money would have to come from the general fund.

After the meeting, she said Osborne�s cost will include a $250 fee to set up the traps, then $75 each time he gets a call that a beaver is caught in a trap.

Craig suggested Andrus put out the word to people who want to trap the animals and might do it for nothing during the season.

�People don�t eat beaver, do they? They just trap them, and ...� he asked, then added jokingly, �I say we harvest them and make them into hats.�

Andrus pointed out that to kill the soldier beavers and relocate the rest of them is the only way to get rid of the problem. That would involve trapping them under water where they would drown, she said.

To relocate them during the winter would be fatal to them anyway, she said, noting, �They would not survive the relocation.�

Craig said he is reluctant to spend money to have the beavers removed if a trapper can find some value in them. He suggested the commissioners delay making a decision on the matter until they can discuss it further.

Dennis Robbins, a New Castle resident who regularly attends the commissioners meetings, suggested they contact the Lawrence or Mercer County Federation of Sportsmen�s Clubs to find out if there are any licensed fur-takers who are interested in trapping the beavers.

�More than likely there would be people willing to go in and take them�

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • Corvi.jpg News, Herald to launch Business Chronicle

    You will find in Monday’s edition of the New Castle News a magazine called the Mercer-Lawrence County Business Chronicle.
    The News is joining forces with our sister paper, The  Herald in Sharon, which has been producing the Business Chronicle in Mercer County for six years.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • DYM.jpg Meet the 2013 contestants for Lawrence County Distinguished Young Women

    The 2013 Distinguished Young Women Program will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday in Westminster College’s Orr Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door. Here's your chance to meet all of this year's contestants.
     

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • City Council Briefs: Firm to provide city hall security

    New Castle City Council approved an agreement last night with a Butler firm to provide armed security at city hall. Security Service’s fee is $16 per hour under a seven-month agreement, which will run through the end of this year.

    May 25, 2012

  • Offices to be closed Memorial Day

    Local government offices and other agencies will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. They include:

    May 25, 2012

  • McDonald.jpg Ellwood City’s fire chief resigns

    A 9-year-old boy with spinal meningitis opened his eyes when he heard a fire siren. As longtime colleague Don Ries tells it, the siren was calling Ellwood City volunteers to a shed fire at the B&O Railroad freight station.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • gavel.jpg Council considers board compromise

    New Castle City Council talked of possible compromise Tuesday night regarding the status of the city’s Historical Architectural Review Board.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Neshannock to pave streets this summer

    The Neshannock Township supervisors will spend $208,226 to pave roads this summer. The supervisors last night selected Youngblood Paving of Wampum for the project as the lowest of four bidders. Greg DelPrincipe of RAR Engineering opened and tallied the bids.

    May 24, 2012

  • Custer.jpg Pastor attains master chaplain status

    The Rev. Tod Custer has attained a master chaplain certificate from the International Conference Police Chaplains. Ellwood City Mayor Anthony J. Court recently recognized Custer, an Ellwood City police chaplain, for his achievement.
    Custer will receive his certification in Spokane, Wash.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Improvements set for Little Beaver bridge

    Improvements to a bridge that carries Huston Road over Little Beaver Creek in Little Beaver Township are to begin Tuesday. Huston Road will be closed between Route 351 and Scott Wallace Road beginning at 7 a.m. The road will be closed through late August.

    May 23, 2012

  • Mahoning gets sewer tap-in grant

     The Mahoning Township supervisors have received a $500,000 block grant to help residents tap into the new sewer system. Supervisor Vito Yeropoli, who is also sanitation plant secretary/manager, said the township was notified of the grant Monday.

    May 23, 2012