Beavers aren't robbing residents

Coquitlam Now Feb 16,2006

Re: "Beaver trapping back on the agenda in Port Coquitlam," Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Port Coquitlam has a major crime problem that is continually getting worse, but instead of allocating as much money as possible to hiring additional police officers and developing crime prevention programs, our municipal leaders sit safely in their chairs and use our money to issue death warrants for animals.

Our taxes could be used to ensure the safety of our streets and homes, but instead, a chunk of available funds is being used to squeeze and drown beavers in steel Conibear traps.

It's true that beavers can chew trees and cause property damage, but the damage they do is nothing compared to the damage caused by the 856 reported break-ins last year. There were 53 reported robberies last year, but none of those cases involved someone being held up or mugged by a beaver.

PoCo has break-ins, rapes, muggings, psychotic meth addicts, shootings, drugs and beavers. Council assumes we are all perfectly willing to accept the criminal aspects of our city, but beavers! Gasp! Something has to be done!

Every dollar of our money that council spends on punishing beavers means there is less money available to be spent on protecting us, our homes and our property. Leave the beavers alone, and focus on the real criminals.

Mike Rogozinski
Port Coquitlam