Commissioners delay removing beavers, promise humane action

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – The beavers living in a swamp alongside the Stavich Bicycle Trail will be left alone for now.

At the Lawrence County commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Commission Chairman Richard DeBlasio said that since discussing eliminating the beavers at last week’s meeting, he and his colleagues have been inundated with public reaction including the Humane Society of the United States.

“I have learned more about beavers in the last week than I have in my entire life,” commented DeBlasio. “We will be discussing this and we will come to some type of compromise,” he added.

They agreed to consider a water flow control device or “beaver baffler” suggested in a letter to commissioners from Laura Simon, field director, Urban Wildlife Program of the U.S. Humane Society in Woodbridge, Conn. Simon said the device would solve the problem of beaver dams causing flooding at the affected culvert along the bike trail, which is owned and maintained by the county.

Commissioners also promised that whatever solution they choose will be humane.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.