Gettysburg beavers?

[archieclement]

Seen alot on here about preserving land outside parks....even to concern over "skylines' outside parks. As well efforts to restore parks to similar as they were during period battle.

Don't recall ever seeing anything on beavers..but may have missed it. But my Facebook feed had an article on a beaver dam on plum run creek that has created significant flooding in the "Valley of Death" it was accompanied with pictures showing trails affected. Not sure if pictures would be flood pool, or normal pool created by beaver dam........but regardless isn't it counter to restoring park to, or preserving 1863 battle conditions?

 

[MRB1863]

Yes, I would say it is counterproductive. But, somehow the PETA voices echo much farther and wider than the Historical Preservation voices. Here is one possible compromise that may serve wildlife preservation and Historical Preservation simultaneously, although it may not be the best for trail-walkers near the Plum Run walking Bridge:

 

[lupaglupa]

Here in New York we rarely remove beaver dams unless they pose a hazard. And usually unless the beavers are also removed they just build new ones. In places where the spreading water has an impact the dams can be retrofitted with drain that reduce the level of the water. The beavers are usually okay with that.

 

[Conquerordie]

I've listened to them speak about this on Addressing Gettysburg. I guess the Beavers are flooding the ground around the 40th NY monument. The park says the monument is in no harm, but haven't found a way to preserve the battlefield, but also preserve the beavers?

 

[rob63]

Seen alot on here about preserving land outside parks....even to concern over "skylines' outside parks. As well efforts to restore parks to similar as they were during period battle.

Don't recall ever seeing anything on beavers..but may have missed it. But my Facebook feed had an article on a beaver dam on plum run creek that has created significant flooding in the "Valley of Death" it was accompanied with pictures showing trails affected. Not sure if pictures would be flood pool, or normal pool created by beaver dam........but regardless isn't it counter to restoring park to, or preserving 1863 battle conditions?

I saw the same post on my FB feed. We have gotten a fair amount of rain lately, so it is partly due to recent flooding and not just the beavers. That said, the beavers are certainly responsible for it being a lake rather than a stream. I'm not particularly fond of what they have done, but don't think it is anything that is going to change anytime soon.

 

[archieclement]

Here in New York we rarely remove beaver dams unless they pose a hazard. And usually unless the beavers are also removed they just build new ones. In places where the spreading water has an impact the dams can be retrofitted with drain that reduce the level of the water. The beavers are usually okay with that.

Can't you just kill them. That's what property owners would likely do here......as well there's a trapping season for their fur.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Can't you just kill them. That's what property owners would likely do here......as well there's a trapping season for their fur.

No! I follow Mike's Photos and Videos of Beavers page on Facebook and I think they are pretty cool.

 

[archieclement]

No! I follow Mike's Photos and Videos of Beavers page on Facebook and I think they are pretty cool.

I'm sure some people enjoyed things like pizza huts and putt putt golf that have seen others complain about over the years as well.......and weren't even on park land supposedly being preserved as battlefield.

But when see pictures like a trail bridge ending in a swamp.....I wouldn't be particularly impressed if had been trying to walk the trail of that section. Perhaps the park should least invest in larger raised deck bridges if not going to remove them.

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And then we can have some complain of the image of large footbridge on a battlefield that wasnt there in 1863 to cover a pond that wasnt there in 1863.........

 

[chubachus]

I saw one of the beavers and the flooding when I visited the Valley of Death in October. I think they said the beavers might be removed if the flooding reaches one of the major monuments.

 

[wausaubob]

Who cares? The land and the hills are still there. The town is similar. Who cares if the vegetation and the streams change?

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I saw one of the beavers and the flooding when I visited the Valley of Death in October. I think they said the beavers might be removed if the flooding reaches one of the major monuments.

Removing them if necessary would be ok.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

 

[121st PA Vols]

We're having a conversation about a 'damned' rodent. (get it?) I suppose the next time I'm home I get with a few buddies from childhood and dam up Rock Creek like we tried as kids and see if we too can get away with damming up a watercourse on Federal land.
Before this latest absurdity by the NPS, I never questioned whether I had the same rights as a rodent. Strange times.

 

[archieclement]

We're having a conversation about a 'damned' rodent. (get it?) I suppose the next time I'm home I get with a few buddies from childhood and dam up Rock Creek like we tried as kids and see if we too can get away with damming up a watercourse on Federal land.
Before this latest absurdity by the NPS, I never questioned whether I had the same rights as a rodent. Strange times.

Indeed......relocate them to a fur buyer wouldn't take much effort.

Could even do a period beaver trapping presentation for a few days till eliminated. Be historical education

Or rangers could enjoy...

Bourbon Brown Sugar Beaver Baguettes - Recipes - The Intrepid Eater

These bourbon-brown sugar beaver baguettes are incredibly delicious and epic sandwiches made out of, believe it or not, seared beaver loin!

www.theintrepideater.com

 

[121st PA Vols]

Indeed......relocate them to a fur buyer wouldn't take much effort.

Could even do a period beaver trapping presentation for a few days till eliminated. Be historical education

Or rangers could enjoy...

Bourbon Brown Sugar Beaver Baguettes - Recipes - The Intrepid Eater

These bourbon-brown sugar beaver baguettes are incredibly delicious and epic sandwiches made out of, believe it or not, seared beaver loin!

www.theintrepideater.com

They already do that with white tails, since at least 1996.
What's irritating is the high-minded principled narrative the NPS spews out, eg, 'preserving the landscape, vegetation and agriculture', when discussing culling the herds where hundreds are killed off while protecting a rodent on the battlefield that has greatly impacted all three of those fraudulent concerns. Unfortunately, that is the modern day NPS at Gettysburg.

 

[archieclement]

They already do that with white tails, since at least 1996.
What's irritating is the high-minded principled narrative the NPS spews out, eg, 'preserving the landscape, vegetation and agriculture', when discussing culling the herds where hundreds are killed off while protecting a rodent on the battlefield that has greatly impacted all three of those fraudulent concerns. Unfortunately, that is the modern day NPS at Gettysburg.

But that's along the lines of why I posted orginally.....park/history types complain about this or that inside or outside the park..........but the destruction wrought by beavers is acceptable......to some.

For sure since learning about and reading articles and comments, many if not the majority would want them removed.....but outside public opinion is just opinion.....the few Gettysburg staff have the authority one way or the other.

To some "destruction" might seem exaggerated......but if a person was damming the creek, cutting down and rearranging brush and trees.....would the park not consider it "destruction" and press charges having them removed....as well want it restored as before?

 

[Story]

I thought this thread was going to be about an obscure PA militia engineer unit.

 

[BrianHistory150]

Since I saw someone fly fishing the Beaver Pond during the summer, I'm assuming since it's winter now, someone may try to go Ice Fishing. Do you need permits for Ice Fishing in Adams County? Also, just so we can all assume this too: There should be a sign there that says: No Ice Skating!!!!

 

[MWood1841]

so let me try and understand this, a last year G-burg thread was discussing NPS significantly limiting visitor access after a previous section of the battlefield had restoration repairs completed. The new reduced access was in attempts to support long term historic preservation into the future. Basically, no longer allowing foot traffic in certain areas, thus also impacting battlefield guides abilities to perform tours.
But a species that is known to be invasive, negatively impact environment to the tune of causing destruction by way of consistant flooding, is ok in the eyes of NPS??
Am I missing something here ? What an oxymoron…
Its beavers folks. Wildlife has to be managed effectively as part of a total conservation effort to support any space - park, battlefield, etc
I'm not exactly keen on killing all the beavers, but NPS has resources and connections with wildlife agencies to partner with and develop successful ways to manage the wildlife issue.
It makes zero sense for $ millions to into preservation and restoration efforts, but lets watch an invasive species create problematic flooding, because beavers are cute. I'm a nature/animal person, but logic and common sense has to come into play here somewhere

 

[Sgt Williams]

Ya know, to be absolutely true to history, if those beavers had shown up to dam Plum Run in the summer of 1863, they would have been shot on sight by the soldiers. Either just for fun of for food.
This actually brings up a another question, perhaps more suitable for a different thread. Are their any historical accounts of battles taking place in, around, or through beaver ponds? How about encampment near beaver ponds? Do we have records of how soldier might have interacted with beavers? Do beavers even live where most of the battles took place in the South, or would soldier interaction with beavers been limited to military action in the North?