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A8 - The Oakville Beaver. W e d n e sd a y D e c e m b e r 10, 2003 Valleybrook beaver's days are numbered Craig MacBride 0 , \KVILLE BEAVER STAFF After discussing the issue with everyone they could think to contact, the Town of Oakville has decided to get rid of a beaver residing in Valleybrook Park by using an underwater trap. Having battled with conflicting protests from neighbours of the park, situated at Upper Middle Road and G rosvenor Street. Chris Mark. Oakville's Director of Parks and Open Space, decided killing the Valleybrook beaver was the most logical decision. The Town has hired a Ministry of Natural Resources (M NR) licensed trapper to set a trap underwater near the beaver's dam within "the next day or two," Mark said in a telephone inter view Tuesday. Live trapping, according to Mark, was considered, but turned down as a danger to children and neighbourhood pets, which could make their way into the small cages used for live trapping. Besides, he said, the MNR doesn't like relocating animals for fear of passing on diseases between animals. He said the beaver would likely be put down after being caught. "It's a very sad situation," said Ward 6 Regional Councillor Janice Wright, who has been part of the team dealing with the beaver in her ward. "The bottom line is children tobog gan down that hill, and where there wasn't a pond, there is now a pond, and PORTABLE HEATERS Si i (.\i \\N STEGMANN CLOGS $145 The Foot Shoppe rf Keep your toes toasty in these luxurious soft wool dogs featuring arch support and shock absorption. Ladies' and Men's sizes are available in your choice of Navy, Maroon. Graphite or Grey. Available at these select locations: Downtown Oakville 905 844.3668 Yonge 6t Eglinton 416 481.4111 Manulife Centre Main Floor 416 964.6400 www.footshoppe.com I have to think of that," she added. As well as safety for tobogganing children. W right's constituents have argued on all sides of the debate. Some want to save the beaver. Some want to save the trees. Others want to save both. "There really doesn't seem to be a good solution." she said. "We tried, we looked at lots of avenues and I don't see how we can do it." Barry Kent-MacKay, a veteran of the Animal Protection Institute, an interna tional organization based in California, offered an alternative. Having worked with beavers in urban areas in the past, Kent-MacKay said there are ways for everyone to get what they want. Told of the worry of a ' growing pond. Kent-MacKay thinks the best solution is the use of beaver baffles. This technique would also cure the worry of flooding and erosion. Beaver baffles are made up of stan dard construction tubing. The tubes are pushed into the dam parallel with the river's natural flow, through the net work of twigs and mud. providing a way for water to get through without really destroying the dam. or the beaver. "The dam isn't water-tight, and the beaver can't figure it out." said KentMacKay. "Surprisingly, the beaver doesn't care too much, and if it does, generally they move on. This has worked many times over. I strongly urge that." Mayor Ann Mulvale said the prob lem is a balancing act that wasn't approached lightly. "The beaver is a problem for the trees, and the Town of Oakville values their trees," she said. "If the beaver is left there and somebody gets sick or there's an issue, someone would ask why didn't the Town do something about it?" Mulvale said that since the killing of the beaver is in the mandate of the staff, the issue hasn't arisen in council. Ward 4 Regional and Local Councillor Allan Elgar, well known as an environmentalist, wishes it had been. He first found out about it when con tacted by the Oakville Beaver. "Let's face it, the beaver was there first or was pushed out of his habitat." he said. "That's amazing, unbeliev able." He added, "I think we should take a closer look at our national symbols. It might be too late, but we should rethink it." Elgar is emailing the people involved with the Valleybrook beaver, in the hope of buying it some time. Chantal Ayotte · Special to the Oakville Beaver 10-year-old Pauline C am pbell Friday with the Oakville Fire D epartm ent courtesy of h er m other, chased the daily visit at the silent auction portion of the B ronte F oundation's rccent Butterfly Ball. T he youngster is pictured here fire gear at the fire training station on South Service Road. FIREFIGHTER FOR A DAY: I >ucky spent last who p u r Butterfly trying on Woman injured in crash Halton Regional Police are investi gating a serious personal injury colli sion Sunday morning at Upper Middle Road east of the Eighth Line. Police, fire and Halton EMS units responded to the scene around 12:39 a.m. and found a heavily damaged 1998 Toyota on the south shoulder of the road. The Toyota had been traveling eastbound on Upper Middle when it turned in front of another car. The 28-year old female driver, a res ident of Oakville, was extricated from her car by Oakville firefighters and was transported to Hamilton General Hospital with serious head injuries. She remains in hospital in critical condition. The other vehicle involved was a 1997 Toyota, the 34-year old female driver of which was not injured. This collision is being investigated by members of the Halton Regional Police Regional Traffic Bureau. W itnesses are asked to contact Detective Constable Solecki at 905825-4777. extension 5108. DO NOT PAY FOR p u r c h a s e f i n a n c i n g for up to 6 0 M O N T H S on s e l e c t e d 2 004 m o d e l s COMPARE VS. GM & FORD 275 LITRES OF FUEL ON ALL NEW PURCHASES AND LEASES Cash p u rch a se fo r o r ,ease^ ^ DAYS ALL VEHICLES ARE WINDSHIELD PRICE TAGGED The best protection we've ever offered on all 2003 and 2004 Chrysler. Jeep*. 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