Protecting beavers
Dear Editor:
I appreciated Gary Ott’s letter regarding the importance of beavers to our watersheds and the early history of their trapping to near extinction in North America. There’s more to that story in Washington. It is important today.
It does not seem well known, but there are no limits on “recreational” killing of beavers. They can be killed anywhere from November through March. This even includes trapping and killing them in areas where they have recently been relocated in the hopes of improving our vital wetlands, a costly operation. That truly makes no sense.
I suspect it’s even less well-known that trappers can kill beavers in a particularly gruesome way. They use underwater traps that catch them and keep them underwater until they drown. This can take a half hour or more.
However beavers are killed, it wreaks havoc on their social, family groups. And we humans are also the losers. We could be encouraging beavers to help us in reducing the effects of years of drought. Protecting beavers in Washington is long overdue.
Incidentally, I had a “problem” beaver near my own house. It took some work, but I was able to limit further damage without harming the beaver. Please do that if you have a problem with a beaver, rather than having it killed.
Randy Brook
Twisp
Great performance
Dear Editor:
On Sept. 16 we heard Michael Brady talk about and play portions of one of Franz Schubert’s last three piano sonatas. This was the first of three consecutive Wednesday performance/lectures that Michael has scheduled.
Michael is a superb pianist and a brilliant teacher. His comments and explanations of what Schubert was doing with the music, and what other musicians thought about the music, are so well thought out and presented as to be an art form themselves.
Michael’s next two performances are Sept. 23 and 30, both at noon at the Methodist Church. They are sponsored by Methow At Home, and free to the public. They will be well worth attending.
We want to thank the Methodist Church, Methow At Home, and Michael Brady for making such a wonderful opportunity available to all of us. Highly recommended!
Alan Watson and Karen Nichols
Winthrop
Saving the deer
Dear Editor:
I am tired of seeing dead deer along Highway 153 and Highway 20. The number displayed on the “deer collision” signs is only a fraction of what is actually killed. Deer must travel to the river every single day for water, and to do that they have to cross the highway. For many, it’s a death sentence.
Imagine a doe trying to cross with traffic moving 60 mph in both directions. Now imagine her trying to cross with two or three fawns. The outcome is often tragic. The fencing along the south side of Highway 153 has made their access even more restricted, forcing deer to reroute through people’s yards just to reach the river. The cumulative impact on the herds is enormous. Years ago, I would see over 100 deer in winter. Now I see eight to 12. Many neighbors report the same decline.
Other pressures add up: poaching, hunting, predators, disease, fires destroying habitat, piped ditches, loss of cover, and increased human presence pushing deer out of critical wintering areas. This is why winter trails are closed — deer must conserve every calorie to survive. If they are forced to move too early or too often, they can starve. After the severe fires we’ve had, reducing or eliminating hunting tags for a period would help the herds recover.
We invest millions into salmon recovery — hatcheries, river restoration, habitat work — yet deer, which also bring in significant revenue through licenses, fuel, groceries, and tourism, receive far less support. The old Methow Valley winter feeding stations disappeared long ago.
There are solutions. Slowing down — especially at night — would save deer and prevent costly collisions. I believe putting up more 45 mph speed limit signs on Highway 20 and Highway 153 could make a real difference. Enhanced signs near established deer and wildlife crossings would alert drivers further to slow down and protect our wildlife.
We need local investigation, collaboration, and action. The deer are part of the beauty of this valley. Seeing them brings joy to people of all ages. They deserve respect — all our wildlife does.
Michael Rothgeb
Twisp
