Langley Advance
Published: Wednesday, September 20, 2006

LANGLEY - Reasons for and methods of beaver trapping will be considered by Langley Township council next week for the first time in several years.

Since 2003, the township has been trapping and killing beavers when they dam ditches or cause other problems, said Mayor Kurt Alberts.

The lethal approach has been unpopular with environmentalists and animal lovers, the mayor said.

The latest protest came from the Fur Bearer Defenders.

It was only in the last three years that the township resorted to lethal trapping, Alberts said.

Before that, beavers were trapped live and usually relocated to streams near Squamish. However, the provincial Ministry of the Environment decided that was more cruel than killing them.

"They usually die," Alberts said.

There were already too many beavers in the relocation areas, and the territorial animals drove away the new arrivals, leaving them to starve.

"We try to minimize trapping as much as we can," said Alberts.

Brad Badelt, township manager of water resources, said about 30 beavers are expected to be trapped this year. The township responds to complaints from residents, and also has crews keep an eye on ditches.