Mary Lake Beaver Mystery Continues
REDDING RECREATION, SHASTA COUNTY
May 12th, 2009
I was surprised when journalist Ryan Sabalow of the Record Searchlight called to ask me if I heard the news regarding the suspicious deaths of 5 beavers in the past few months in Mary Lake. Apparently he found numerous posts I had on my blog regarding the life and times of Mary Lake’s beaver family. First, I didn’t know we had so many beavers living in Mary Lake. Second, I had no idea five of these playful critters had been killed or died and local Fish and Game wardens were investigating.
The mystery centers on the cause of death of these water rodents. Did they die of natural causes, from competing wildlife such as river otters, or as one neighbor believes, malicious actions of teenage boys? Hopefully, a necropsy soon to be performed by state officials will shed some light on the cause of death for one unlucky beaver.
After the Record Searchlight featured Ryan’s story on the plight of the beavers on the front page of Saturday’s paper, I was contacted by a neighbor who saw three teenage boys recently kill a mallard and hurl huge boulders at a beaver. My neighbor confronted the boys but did not stick around to see the outcome of their actions. The article spurred my neighbor to file a report with state wildlife officials including a description of the boys and the vehicle one was seen driving.
Thank you Record Searchlight for bringing attention to this tragedy. Time will tell if the cause will be determined and appropriate actions taken to protect the critters that call Mary Lake home.
Please contact me if you have any information on these events.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS GMAC
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
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