A2 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 2, 2007 ,CH traps disruptive beaver t"rio ajt Kelso Animais disturbing trout spawning area By Melanie Hennessey CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Conservation Halton (CH) recently trapped a trio of beavers who were causing problems in the waterway at Kelso Conservation Area. The animais - which were caught in traps designed to kili - had bult a dam in Sixteen Mile Creek that was destroying a habitat necessary for rain- bow trout spawning, said CH Director of Watershed Management Services Bob Edmondson. It's one of the best rainbow trout breeding areas along Sixteen Mile Creek, located between our (Kelso) dam and Third Sideroad," he explained. "We had the dilemma of trying to deal with the habitat of one over another." He note that if the dam had made the water level rise, anything along the shoreline wouid've been destroyed, making Il ail the more important to ensure there are no interferences in the water flow. Relocatioun flot viable Fdmondson explainied the traps used, which were set out by a licensed trapper, were the most humaine type of those meant to kili because they were quick and the beavers didn't suffer. He said CH didn't use live traps because ifs very difficuit to relocate beavers. "There's nowhere to relocate them to without treattng another prohlem,- he said, noting the success rate lor moving heavers is very low. Ministry of Natural Resources con- scireatton ofiii Aaron B3arber sharcd stijlar scîîîslic ',aid the 1)1ohlcn \Mith rclotating ht'averis, part icularly in Hialton Regton, ls the high piertentage oi p)rts atelN>-ownicti land. V)ouire Ilîn tht problecm front onc arca and gîving il to another pecrsoni, lic said. Ilie ws nt on Io say tIl b li \,as -totally justIiic n xvhat it dind to fo'. the hctver proleco. Buit, ai lcast one local resident liad "We had the dîlenuna Of trying to deal with the habitat of one over anothr.m' some concernis with the trapptng that was donc. Miltonian Vit Park discovered one of the traps in the water when he was out walking bts dog off-leash last month at Keiso. While neither he nor bis dog was injured, he was stili womred about what would've happened if a child had found a trap. "They would lose an arm or a hand" he said. "We're flot talking about somne- thing that just a high risk toi animaIs, but to children as weli." He was also worried that there w;ere no signs alerting people toi the traps. Fdmondson said CH doues have a concern for the safety of those visiting is parks, but pointed out the traps were placed in the water in areas that are "off the beaten track," meaning they weren't on a trail. He explained that people couid've gone looking for the traps if signage had been put up toi tell everyone they were there. Since the beavers have been caught, he said the traps have been removed. He also noted that dogs are sup- posed to be walked on a leash on CH properties. Beavers are located throughouo CH- owned lands. Whiie its the first time thes ve btbeen ktîo\s n to huild a dam on Ila lotation at Kl Fdnontlson saiti there hase hecen similar tases at the Hilton Falls anti Stotth Block dams. Ht cenphatstzedtlhat CHIs lir-st approach is always to let the hetsers bc. At this point, he saiti ifs unknown il toaps wiii have o hie set ouît next y'ear nottng III ls tdonc il tht tlarns arte crc- atong a prohlem. N1îloti' l tittsî (an i tt o bc i lidl ai Miset0 ,tsai0ta*itre -, eIm 0 -r' a We want you to have SIL SflS~O~~ Completely Satisfied WESELSASACIOIIII Auto Service ' WINTER SERVICE SPECIAL Maintenance Service Front $4995tWheel Alignment $49955t30 $5995* ýjMI OitFle Lou ihr pplcbe b j Tr waje ful & Setie Ilrp !j cotpuei alugm Rtto of4 tie jPeae-fMi InpcinTeàjsrei & Sl pn ad supeso inpeto Id Pvd mole rpor nfni f Ian, :m , I tA' !r w HRIIV ni dipoalsenisvrneii andsviIndi co