I would like to begin by apologizing for the length of this post, but there is a lot to this problem.

So I live in a development that has a nice sized lake. There are houses, condos, and townhouses built around the lake, but any property owner in the development can use the lake, and there is a walking path around the lake. In the past 6 months a family of beavers decided to make the lake home, and had dammed up the part of the lake right by the main road. They have also cut down a large number of trees all around the lake and has caused a lot of trouble with trees down around the walking path and they started to chew on the docks around the lake holding a number of small boats. They also cut down a tree that we had our small boat tied to and we almost lost the boat.

So a few weeks ago my husband took our dogs down to the lake for a walk - something we do all year long - and he ran into a trapper. The property owner's association hired him to get rid of the beavers, and told him that no one took their pets to the lake at this time. Now, we understand that there is a need to get rid of the beavers, but we were really pissed off that no one was notified of the impending trapping. The man put a trap right where our dogs like to jump into the water, and if my husband didn't see the trapper he wouldn't have known about that particular trap and one of our dogs could have been hurt.

I had planned on putting a letter in with my monthly check to the POA telling them that I was unhappy with them not informing us about the trapping, but yesterday we got an anonymous letter in our mailbox saying that the POA is trapping and it has nothing to do with anyone who doesn't live on the lake, and that it is inhumane and the POA should stop it.

Now, it DOES have to do with everyone in the development - just because you choose not to use the lake doesn't mean it doesn't affect you. Hell, I've been paying an extra $200 a year for the past two years in fees so a new pool can be built, and I have no intention of using it (I hate public pools), but that is my choice and I chose to live in this development and pay for services which I may or may not use. I do not appreciate someone sending letters to everyone without putting their own name on the letter and suggesting we not pay our monthly fees because they think beavers are cute. Beavers are not cute, they are destructive. I would like it if the trapper could do it in a way that they wouldn't die and he can relocate the animals, but right now I'm concerned with getting them out of the lake. I have a feeling the person who wrote that letter is one of the people who leave troughs of food and salt licks for the deer in their front yards - right by the road.

How do y'all think I should handle the situation now? I'm not sure what my next step should be.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Answers

When is the next HOA meeting? I think you should go and bring it up. I would also write a letter to them.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Unfortunatley they only have annual meetings, so the next one is in April.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Write your letter and get in touch with a your POA by phone as well. My advice to you is to send the letter certified mail for 2 reasons: it is always good to have record of anything you send to your property manager, and a certified letter is sure to get noticed and is taken a little more seriously (it says that you are being prepared in case of litigation). Considering the safety hazards that come from having traps around in common areas, there may actually be legal issues that the POA will be dealing with, and whether or not you are involved in any lawsuits, a certified letter just hints that you may be.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Beavers only have annual meetings?

:-)

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

I've been a beaver lover for years. Some of the greatest fishing spots I've ever enjoyed were created by beavers. If they cause problems, they should be live trapped and moved.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Since you asked, I think you should be very grateful that you have a nice home. Enjoy it and be glad that the housing you've provided for yourself is not considered "destructive".

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Robyn, thanks for the advice.

Jill, I am thankful I have a nice house. I would like to keep it nice, seeing that the dam that the beavers built could evenutally do damage to the main road that my house is built next to. See, even if I didn't use the lake the beavers living in the lake are my problem! And I'm sure the people who have trees falling around their houses are thankful that they have nice homes, and are afraid that theirs may be destroyed. This isn't a huge lake - maybe 100 acres. The trees were there before the beavers and were beautiful. Who is going to fight for the trees?

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

How are the beavers being trapped? Leg traps? Cage traps? Makes a difference. What is to be done with them once they are trapped? It makes a difference. Are they to be ground up into dog food? Moved to a safe and secure location? Makes a difference. Have you checked to see whether the HOA has the authority to contract to have the beavers removed? Has the Royal SPCA been notified? Makes a difference. Beavers can be very destructive. But were there beavers in your part of the world before you were there? Is the lake a natural lake or manmade? Makes a difference. Do the beavers have a young brood in the den right now? Trapping the adults dooms the young to starvation. Are you the problem for buying into a development that altered the relationship that was there before all of you moved in and made a good profit for some company that doesn't give a shit about the place before or after they altered it? Age old problem with no easy answers. I'm not condeming any one for wanting to buy a nice place to live. Sounds like a really nice place. But having grown up in one of the fastest growing areas of the US I have seen what can happen. I used to see deer licking the salt off of the kelp(seaweed) at the beach and coyotes scavenging for dead seals and seabirds. There areno coyotes or deer left. Lots of cars and houses. But no deer or coyotes or frogs or eagles or shore birds by the tens of thousands that I witnessed as a kid. So at least find out how they are being trapped, and if the proper permits were obtained for their capture, and find out if they are to become dogfood. James

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

There were no beavers in the man-made lake before this past year (FYI, there are only TWO natural lakes in Virginia). This is an old development, compared to other areas, meaning that most of the houses were built in the early 80s. I'm not sure what kind of trapping they are doing, since the POA hasn't said a word about what they are doing. My husband couldn't tell what kind of traps the trapper was putting out, and just asked the man where the traps were so he could keep the dogs out of that area.

I want to write a letter to the POA, but I'm not sure what to exactly say to them. I also want to say something to the person who sent out the anonymous letter, because I think it was chicken-shit of him/her to do that.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

I also wanted to mention that the reason why we chose this development to live in is because they didn't chop down all the trees and have made sure that the wildlife that was here before the houses were built didn't lose much habitat. All of the houses around me have a good amount of land and are very wooded. I'm really not sure where these beavers came from because there aren't any lakes close to this one where they could just mosey on over to.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Hey, James -- does it make a difference?

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

"I also wanted to mention that the reason why we chose this development to live in is because they didn't chop down all the trees and have made sure that the wildlife that was here before the houses were built didn't lose much habitat."

That's reassuring to me, Nicole. I rather had the idea that indiginous wildlife was somhow distasteful to you. How curious that there are no other lakes or rivers in your area. Poor little displaced beavers, all bucktoothed and unwanted and lost. They don't know any better. I know you'll see to it that they are dealt with respectfully and humanely.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

If you think you know who wrote the letter, and have more to back you up than salt licks on their property, then by all means confront that person and let them know you think s/he is a chicken-shit. Why should anyone take the word of an anonymous letter-writer who doesn't want to take the chance of standing up for their beliefs? If I honestly thought the traps were inhumane (and they may be) I would have no problem whatsoever letting everyone know what I thought and who I was.

And I'm with you on the dog thing. It was totally irresponsible to order trapping without letting the homeowners know. Even if you don't have a dog, it's irresponsible. If you're paying fees for this lake, then you should know what is going on. If you have pets who use the lake and are concerned about their safety, then you should have been informed. I would be worried about the possibility of them moving the traps without informing everyone, and therefore the 'safe' parts of the lake are now no longer safe. I like the certified letter idea. Just tell them you're disappointed and feel their actions were irresponsible and are now causing you a lot of worry. Tell them you want to be informed if the traps are to be moved, and told about any further action that may be taken against the rogue beavers.

The Beavers' role is not to be destructive. They are being destructive to your area because it is a residential area, therefore, are destructive to you right now. Beavers, in the wild, provide a necessary service in a fragile eco-system. The fact that they have moseyed on over to your man-made lake and are the first beavers to cause such distress to you indicates that they have been pushed out of their original home, I would suspect, by an encroaching development. (Now, I can't say that for sure, because I'm not there.) This is the chance that is taken when people move into areas populated by animals. We expect nature to back off and go away when it is convenient for us. I was at a friend's cottage last summer and all they did was bitch about the skunks, and various other annoyances. Well, if you put yourself in the woods, next to the water, you're going to get animals.

I feel for you, Nicole, honestly. I wouldn't want to have to worry about a tree falling on my house. Your home sounds lovely. I would like to know if you find out if the beavers are being trapped and relocated humanly.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Thanks, deb. It feels good to know that someone understands or at least is trying to understand what I'm going through.

As for you Jill, it is obvious that you either have never lived anywhere besides a city, or you are a wizened old bitch who has nothing better to do than lurk until you find something to harp about. I'm thinking it is the later. Why don't you go find a beaver somewhere and fuck him, you hateful skank.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Hey Nicole, if you have mice in your house, let them run around and don't try to catch them. After all, they have a right to live there too! Better yet, if you have termites, leave them be. They have a right to eat the wood in your house.

No matter where you build a house, it's going to disrupt some form of life.

There is nothing wrong with trying to trap the beavers as long as it's done without hurting them (which Nicole said she hopes is the case). Especially if it's possibly going to do damage to someone's house or hers.

Nicole is right, Jill. You have not been around here for a long time and your post was nothing but hateful. I don't know if you are proud to be a bitch all the time, but you're going to end up being a very bitter in your old age. Get over yourself, already.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Word, you guys. Guess I better tell Magnum to quit coming right cause the "cockroaches are people too". And fire ants have every right to bite my kid and my dog, huh? Come to think of it, nevermind the flea baths, fleas are people too!

Sheesh. I too, live in a semi-rural area, and I understand there's a responsibility to the wildlife in the area, but as I am not willing to live in the city (you might as well just tell this country girl to curl up and die if you make me live in the city), I expect there to be some balance between my needs and those of the wildlife. Planting native plants to provide a food source and preserve water and not cutting down trees and letting areas go fallow = good compromises. Allowing a rogue family of beavers to chop down a tree that could crash into my roof is ridiculous; as shelly said, just as ridiculous as allowing termites to eat it from the inside out.

Nicole, I hope this works out for you, and screw the pansy ass who didn't even have the guts to sign their name to their letter. I'm sure everyone reacted just the way you did, thinking, what the fuck??

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

But Luchina, it's fun getting bit by fire ants. I especially like the stinging and the red bump look all over my feet. It's sexy.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Am I evil because I own a fly-swatter?

All you people who have bug zappers are going to HELL!

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

You know you're a redneck when...all it takes to keep you entertained in the evening is a bug-zapper and a six-pack.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

What does it mean if you don't even need the bug zapper? Because I don't.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Who's hateful? You're the one soliciting opinions and then slinging profanity and insults, Nicole. I replied sincerely and courteously to your queries and comments and now you're judging me and cursing me? I don't understand what I said to incite such ugliness.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

I've only posted a few times, but I have to say something. Jill, you have been very hateful with your posts. I can't remember anything you have said that has ever been nice. I don't think baiting Nicole and then acting all innocent when she reacts to your nasty remarks is courteous.

You are going to end up a very lonely woman if you act like this in real life. I hope this is just a persona you put on while on the internet, because acting like this in real life is going to get you in big trouble.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

I always thought Jill was a troll...?

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

I provide the six-pack and you provide the entertainment? My kinda date. Back to the beavers....young beavers are kicked out by the parents when they're old enough to make it on their own. They wander around, find a mate, and start a new home. Happens all the time around here because I live in the Sam Houston National Forest in East Texas. People really get pissed when they wake up one morning and see that beautiful Japanese weeping willow in the front yard was cut down overnight and dragged into the lake. They're not as bad as the wild hogs, which can ruin a garden in one night. The beavers Nicole, just like you, thought it was a great place to set up housekeeping, but I can understand why you fail to see humor in the situation.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

Nicole, I totally understand what's going on. We live in a little nook up against a huge amount of forest land and are surrounded by wildlife. I've learned more about living with the woodlands creatures in the past year than I ever thought I'd know. We try very hard to live harmoniously, and we did put out a salt lick for our deer (not really ours, but we pretend) and just to show how wildlife dumb I am, I wanted to put it right outside of the back door so that they would come close and maybe grow so tame that I could pet them, and love them, and eventually call them George. The salt lick was placed way back in the woods, and my partner explained why my idea was a bad one. This is the same guy that had to stress the importance of not putting food out for the bears. I'm starting to lose some of my deeply held Disney beliefs. And we let the deer eat our bushes, and I let the possum saunter in front of my car, but when the gypsy moths began their destruction last year, we didn't let them fulfill their tree eating destiny.

We do the best we can, all of us. For the record, I think it's great that you give a shit and I hope your home is protected. In your letter to the POA, just explain that you have concerns for the safety of the local residents, their pets, and the children in the area. And don't hesitate to ask for information on what exactly will transpire with the beavers, whether or not you should expect inquiries about your neighborhood's policy towards wildlife, and the name of the company that will be handling the control of the beaver problem. Especially if you pay a fee of some sort to this organization, you either deserve to know to what use your contributions are being utilized, or what services you are paying for and whether or not they are worth your financial support. They work for you. Instruct them.

Keep us up to date, man, because this is a really interesting situation.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2001

I used to dream of being a hateful skank. I can fake the hateful part pretty good but, God help me, I'm just not that skanky! :-(

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

That's funny, Paul. The only part of Nicole's remark I've ever dreamed about is the "fucking beavers" bit. But I finally graduated to compliant farm animals before moving on to females of my own species. When these douche bags get all wound up and start being mean to each other, it makes me nostalgic, I can tell you that.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

I agree with having them live-trapped and moved. I think some traps drown them. I generally try to coexist with critters, but your situation is *completely* different. I live in a gigantic apt. complex. Every night my daughter and I look to see if a particular skunk is making the rounds and when I don't see it, I hope it hasn't been poisoned. And, I've come face to face with a gigantic racoon in the dumpster. These wild animals seem to be use to a lot of human activity. I helped someone live trap squirels at a school and release them into the wild. A couple of year ago I caught hell for moving a baby rattler back to the wild out of our parking lot (yes, I know their venom is very potent). If I had a nice house and there was plenty of wild space, I'd want the Beavers gone, in a humane way, also.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Hey Bubba! Remember when you used to go beaver huntin'? Man that was fun huh!? I felt sorry for some of the ones I caught though. I was humane by the way. James

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

As always, Bubba, you disgust, yet intrigue me (said with affection, of course.)

Robyn's 'Disney beliefs' reminded me of a story I heard coming out of the Banff tourists' office. Apparently they keep a dossier on stupid tourist tricks. Anyway, this family was camping and there were bears nearby and mom and dad wanted a photo of the bears so they smeared honey on the baby's face so the bear would come and lick it off. Living as close to Banff as I do, I would not doubt it in the least.

And, living this close to Banff, I see the problems that are caused when humans encroach on wildlife. There are major problems with elk, deer and, this summer, bears and cougars. I mean, I do feel for Nicole. The beavers weren't there when the development started, and are causing problems now. But I feel for wildlife, too, being pushed further and further out of their habitats. These guys obviously need to be moved (safely, humanely) but there are a great number of people near where I live who feel that, as people, we have domain over the entire world and the animals should get lost when they inconvenience us. One guy, after a bear attack in high country said, "They're OUR woods. We own them. They should just get rid of all the bears." And kiss the eco-system goodbye. That attitude frustrates me greatly. In no way am I saying that is Nicole's attitude. I understand her frustration as well.

Dammit! Why can't we all just get along? ;)

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Deb, in Glacier they've come up with a solution for the grizzlies eating hikers that camp overnight on the trails. They've built chainlink compounds for the hikers to camp and sleep in that prevent the bears from doing a midnight snack routine. The people are behind the fence, for a change. I liked the idea. My wife and I spent two weeks last year fly fishing in the Yak River country and rented a cabin at Lake Kookcanusa right on the Canadian border and they were doing the same thing there. All around, it makes sense. In East Texas you would not believe the wildlife we have to put up with. We never go for walks in the woods without a large bore pistol because of the wild hogs. I killed a 425 pound boar two years ago with a .308 Winchester that was killing our dogs IN THE FUCKIN' YARD. This is 70 miles north of Houston, the 4th largest city in the US. He was thirty feet away when I shot him and all three 100 pound plus Shepherds had rips in their hides. They usually run the other stuff out of the yard, but this guy was too much for them. We had a deer come up on the porch and chew up a cedar ice cream maker for the salt while we were gone one day. (We had the dogs with us.) UP ON the porch. Go figger.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

And James...hey, you know, humane is the only way to be. Especially if you want a second date. The ol' "love 'em and leave 'em" don't go with the beaver bunch. Squirrels on the other hand don't seem to mind.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

I got the impression that Jill was trying to be humorous, not vindictive. (Come on, the image of little homeless bucky-faced beavers wandering around with hobo bags tied to sticks was pretty funny, y'all.) I'm just sayin' that it's hard to read someone's intent or tone of voice when all you have is written words on a screen to go by.

As for the subject at hand: I am appalled on your behalf that there are traps down by the lake that your animals could get hurt by, and I agree that it was wrong and irresponsible of the Homeowner's Association not to warn you all first. As for the deer- loving person, I agree that she's probably doing more harm than good. It's nice to feed poor little Bambi and Faline, but feeding them right by the ROADWAY is criminal. Luring more deer to the area and feeding them when the naturla habitat might not support the deer it has already is also short-sighted. I'm all for loving the animals and protecting them and being kind to them, and I realize that when we move into "their territory", we take our chances, but it sounds to me like the beavers were the johnny-come-latelies, not the people. Hopefully the local animal shelters or animal control are using humane traps and setting them free somewhere else where they can frolic and play and make their damns where there isn't a chance that they'll drop a tree on someone's roof or car (or head) one day. If they're chewing the docks, that, too, is dangerous and I can understand why you'd be worried lest an adult or child walk out onto a weakened dock and have the structure collapse underneath them.

I think the certified letter expressing your concerns for both the animal's eventual well-being while being relocated and your concerns as a homeowner and pet "mom" would be a great idea. Good luck.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Hee! Freudian slip. I meant "dams" not "damns". *snicker* (Or maybe I meant "damn dams". Your choice.)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Hey, do you all think of Vegas Vacation every time you hear the word dam?

Welcome to the dam tour. Take all the dam pictures you want.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Robyn, the same gag was in "Beavis and Butthead Do America."

"Well, I'll be damned." :-)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Yikes, Bubba. Your poor doggies. We don't have problems like that here. Our biggest threat to our dog is the coyotes. When he was a pup and we lived in the field, we had to escort him out at night to do his business. Coyotes will send their pups out to lure a dog pup back to the den and then they kill him. But, man, boars...holy. Are they good eatin'?

I've heard of the 'people in cages' solution. I love it. In no way am I saying anyone should be mauled by a bear, but you take certain chances in high country, and when you ignore the posted notices, the media and the rangers and THEN go off trail (all of which this mauling victim did) then you are taking unnecessary risks. Why blame the bear?

And, because I'm a big fat, hypocrite....Before I moved here, seven years ago, I was all "Oh, those poor gophers! Leave them alone. Stop shooting/poisoning/siccing your dogs on them. They were here first!" Then, I lived in a trailer in a hay field for a year, and I'll tell you, I'll go out myself and choke them with my bare hands. Aside from the sprained/broken ankles on humans and horses and cows alike, it's impossible to run a working farm if you let the gophers run amok. No farm; no wheat, corn, canola, barley or cows, therefore, no food. I had to weigh the cost of the gophers' lives against the cost of replacing the pregnant cow that had to be put down because of the broken leg. One cow + one calf is a whole lotta money.

It's all personal perspective. Environmentalists were frothing last summer during the drought because our irrigation canal system was taking so much water from the Bow River that wayyyyy downstream the trout didn't have enough water to live. Their solution was that the irrigation canal should be closed, in order for the trout to survive. If the irrigation canal had been closed, all the crops would have died because we got no precipitation last year. As it was, the crops were pretty sparse. So, what's more important; the trout or the crops that feed people and beef cattle? It depends on who you ask.

Back to the beavers! Did you write the letter, Nicole?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Yep,they are, Deb. Some people cringe a little when they find out that some of the things they eat are roadkills. (Pigs are omnivores). I've even worked a few murder cases where the body was dumped in the woods and the pigs found it before the authorities did. That always gives me a little twinge when I'm eating one.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I would ignore the anonymous letter. The POA has no reason to take it seriously, and it's all the more reason for you to voice your valid concerns about the trapping.

Does your POA have any sort of newsletter? I know my parents' old neighborhood had a monthly newsletter where they would keep the residents posted about things like that. Someone in the POA had to have made this decision, and that person had the obligation to inform the rest of the POA.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I'm in the process of writing the letter, trying to get my wording right and debating on whether to mention the anonymous letter. When we first moved into the development there used to be a monthly newsletter, then it changed to bi-monthly, and now we will get a random newsletter every once in a while. They've got a website - I don't know why they don't at least update with information on the goings-on of the area.

Last night we noticed that there was a sign by the lake where one of the traps was. From what my husband said of his short conversation with the trapper, it sounds like most of his trapping is live. I didn't even realize there is a beaver trapping season in Virginia, but there is, so what the trapper is doing is legal since he is trapping on the land that the POA officially owns (the twenty feet or so surrounding the edge of the lake is officially property of the POA and that is how everyone in the area can use the lake without trespassing on other people's land.) and has given him permission/paying him to trap. I don't know how legal it was to not tell anyone about the trapping.

While I think the deer around here are very pretty, they pretty much have no fear of humans anymore (evidenced by my neighbor chasing them around his front yard when he found them eating his tulips and the deer looking at him like he was retarded) and hang around the side of the road all the time. I regularly hear the screeching of breaking tires down the street, where the nightly feeding of the deer is located. I'm waiting for someone to total their car by hitting one of the deer. I also used to think the woodpeckers were cute too, until they started pecking holes into the side of our house and nesting.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Just wanted to let the anonymous sender know that I did not read the "tell you off" cards sent to me. I wonder who might have done that? I know it wasn't Nicole because she thinks anonymous letters are "chicken-shit" and she's shown way too much class to ever exhibit that sort of behaviour, right?

Anyway, you win, Nicole. You're the Queen Beav of Gwen's forum and God Dam anyone who disagrees with you. Your infantile threats and insults have made my experiences in this forum so distasteful that I shan't post here anymore. Vive La Beav! Nicole has triumphed!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Jill, I have no idea what you are talking about with the tell them off post cards. Obviously, I've told you here on the boards what I think about you, why would I send you something anonymously? Maybe someone else wanted to tell you off? I didn't really see anyone sticking up for you here, with the exception of Milla suggesting what you said was a joke. Honestly, I did not send those cards to you. I wouldn't consider you worth the hassle.

Anyway, seeing that you didn't really post here much anyway and what you did say was usually rude, I for one won't be sad to see you leave. Maybe some people that I know of that don't post too much (or at all anymore) because of you will come back.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Promises, promises. You've said that before, Jill.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

But back to beavers....isn't it sad that Beaver College is changing their name? Beavers get no respect. Maybe they can become "Fire Ant College."

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I once saw a female comedian who said she went to Morehead College. And she was a cheerleader. And how embarassing it was to stand in the middle of a football field, in a short skirt, shouting "Morehead! Morehead!"

That was years and years ago and it still makes me laugh.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Lisa, a guy who went to high school with my brother went to Beaver College. I wish he stayed friends with that guy so we could get Fighting Beavers shirts.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

ok..this is bugging me now. How did beavers ever get associated with a woman's crotch?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Uh, don't mind me. I'm just listening.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I have no idea. I've certainly never used my crotch to chop down trees and build a dam, but whatever. This chick that posed in Playboy (I know, shut up) was from that Beaver College (which one is it?) and of course there were all sorts of Beaver, har har har jokes in her spread. Heh. I said "spread".

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Oh yeah, boy, it sure was awful that Jill got anonymous "tips" in her mailbox, huh? I sure hope she doesn't get anymore, that'd just be awful!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Duck Bubba! James

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Big time, I don't even have any connections with Beaver College and I was pissed about that news. Please, BC, act like grownups and be proud of your name. It's just like how the University of Hawaii started talking about possibly changing their name from the "Rainbows" to something not so closely associated with gays and Lesbians. How ridiculous.

Speaking of how "beaver" came to be associated with the female crotch, it totally cracks me up to hear TV news anchors who are forced to tell you, "Number one at the box office this weekend, SNATCH." That's a "politically incorrect" name for a movie, and you can see on the faces of the TV news team what they're all thinking. :-) If TV news people are anything at all, they are uber-PC and this just makes them squirm. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Maybe they call 'em beavers cause they make tall, straight things fall down?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Bubba, I always heard it was the other way around.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

That too.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Howdy folks I always thought it was a fur reference. Hate to break it to you but, if he's trapping in season it's so that the beaver has the best pelt. If the traps aren't cages they are meant to kill. Traps set in the water are meant to drown the beaver. If he's not being paid for live trapping and relocation then he's probably going to sell the furs for profit. People and beavers historically don't get along together very well. They flood our roads and we use them as speed bumps. But who knows, the next little upscale community in Virginia that wants their stream turned into a lake might be interested in helping with relocation ;).

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

If I knew where Nicole lived I'd be leaving Canadian nickles on her front porch. They have beavers on them. 'Cause I just think that sort of thing is funny.

The University of Hawaii should change its name because 'Rainbows' is just.....stupid. Was 'Pooka shells' taken?

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

I know, Deb, I've never found rainbows particularly intimidating. They could have picked The Fighting Sugar Canes and even that would have been better. Or The Unripened Pineapples. Or The Black Sand In Your Swimsuits. New contest in Gwentown: rename the University of Hawaii mascot. First prize is a hearty handshake.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

I don't know about the name of their teams, but the cheerleaders can be called the "Don Ho's"

And if I walked outside my front door and found a beaver nickel, I would laugh my ass off.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

How about "The Great Lei's"??

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Luchina, that is the best name that I've ever heard.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

What is this "trapper" isn't really a trapper? He's out, trapping beavers...sure. But what if the mgmt doesn't know he's doing this? What if he is really just lurking about in the woods, waiting for a hapless victim, and using the beaver traps as a cover? He could be casing houses, waiting for a small child to walk by...

Ok. Maybe too far out to consider. But my point is that the development should tell you if it has contracted strangers to wander about your property -- whether they're painting, trapping or gardening. Dontcha think?

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

"Don Ho's" and "Great Leis." Brilliant, I love 'em! :-)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Luchina wins. Everybody can go home now.

Laura's right. You should be notified anytimethere is a service-person in the area.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

omy goodness twat a topic!!!! niclow beevers are cute! when i was a kid we used to go around with bucked teeth and sya bucky bucky beever! i hope they dont eat your trees!!! jill was all ways meen to me to. i think she needs a bf. bibba you and james are still preverts ewwwww!!!

why ar you guys talking about womans privites???

what did lugina win???? was there a contest???

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Re: "twat a topic"...BWA HA HA!!!

Okay, that was pretty amusing.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Floosie, I won an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii!!! You should have been here to join the contest. Oh well.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

A bit off the original topic, but... I am originally from Oregon - "The Beaver State" - got one of my degrees Oregon State University - Home of the Beavers (and, yes, we really did have bumperstickers and sweatshirts, etc. that stated - "I have Beaver fever" or "I am a Beaver believer!") and we Oregonians are pretty much past the giggles, innuendo and junior high-like behavior/comments the word "beaver" seems to elicit from the immature. I am still amazed when I wear an OSU Beaver sweatshirt how many people (men, of course) snicker OR beg to buy it from me. All in all, better an OSU Beaver than a U of O duck!!! ... .

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2001

Here in Columbus, OSU stands for only one thing - Ohio State University, home of the Buckeyes (for those who don't know, a buckeye is a worthless nut). Nuff' said.

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2001

Isn't that "THE Ohio State University?" That's what I heard was the official name, anyway. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Ooooh, no. A buckeye is also a fabulous sweet treat. A gooey, peanut buttery, super sweet ball rolled in melted chocolate.

We also make jewelry using real buckeyes. They look great as the center piece on a hemp necklace.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Absolutely, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, and curses on all ye who disparage their holey name. The "real" buckeye is the buckeye tree which has a poisonest nut that looks like a deer's eye (hince, buckeye) and the state tree. The yummy candy is a peanut butter candy ball dipped in chocolet with just part of the brown part left open to look like a buckeye. I know. I helped make over 200 pounds over Christmas for my auxilary's annual candy sale. (Forgive me spelin me brane is off today.)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001