Peggy Ruge has been quite vocal against killing the beavers and calls trappers’ methods inhumane.
Ruge said killing the beavers through the Conibear trap does not always kill them instantly and they often suffer and drowning them is not acceptable.
“It’s just disgusting what (the trappers) do,” Ruge said.
The reasons given for killing the beavers to remove from problem areas are not strong enough and are just an attempt to appease the public, Ruge said.
“They can make up a whole pile of crap so they can kill them off.”
Ruge, who is involved with about 13 animal advocacy groups, moved to the Island from Surrey, B.C. last October and said the town also had a problem with beavers.
The town used to deal with them the same way by trapping and killing but the mayor was willing to consider non-lethal methods for limiting the damage the beavers cause.
She can’t understand why these methods, which she referenced from a website called www.furbearerdefenders.com, are not being considered on P.E.I., Ruge said.
They can make up a whole pile of crap so they can kill them off. - Peggy Ruge
“They mayor decided to try these methods so they wouldn’t have to kill the beavers. To me, why not give it a try.”
The methods Ruge is referring to mostly involve treating the trees with either a type of paint or solution that discourages the beavers from chopping them down or a metal type of shield on the base of the tree.
She is not in agreement with her tax dollars being spent on hiring trappers to kill the beavers, Ruge said.
“I don’t want to pay for (the trappers) that I want to trap myself.”
She has voiced her concern over the process with the media and plans to go to the government next, Ruge said.
“I’m willing to protest and willing to do what’s necessary.”
amacleod@theguardian.pe.ca
