Oct 06 2006

Editor: I am writing this letter to share with you my disgust and disappointment with the Township of Langley for killing beavers using the trap and kill method. Anyone who saw the item on TV recently was probably as shocked and horrified as I was, to watch with anguish two different beavers trapped and fighting with all their might to get free.

Traps do not immediately kill the beavers and sometimes they struggle for hours before they die. Traps are cruel and should be abolished altogether. The trap and kill method is an unacceptable method to control any animal.

Death by drowning for a beaver is especially painful and inhumane. Shame on Langley for allowing this abuse of our animals.

I urge all citizens to write letters to the Environment Minister, Barry Penner, all MLAs and the mayor and council of Langley Township, urging all parties to work together to resolve this issue.

We have a catch and release program for fish, so why is it then that we cannot have a catch and relocate program for our beavers and/or any wildlife.

I have written letters myself to Mr. Penner, and the mayor and council of Langley Township, expressing my concern and outrage at the trap and kill method that is currently being practised to control the beavers. I urge all citizens to do the same, as silence is often viewed as acceptance.

The catch and relocate program must be implemented if we are to protect all animals. Death of any animal should always be a last resort, and when necessary it should only be done in a humane method.

I look forward to a positive outcome on this matter.

Deb Stecyk,

High Level, Alberta