N.H. State Parks will convene “work group” to help decide fate of beavers in Pillsbury State Park

June 27, 2015 at 4:10 pm (No Bad Beavers! Solving beaver related issues.)

My recent visit to Washington, N.H. ended with a stop at “primitive” and beautiful Pillsbury State Park where I explored a bit and found yet another potential beaver conflict site at a trail that is also used for snowmobiling and as a “service/access road”. The “Five Summers Trail” and the branching off “Bear Pond Trail” both cross a potential wetland habitat / riparian corridor that has been repeatedly attempted to be colonized by the local remnant beaver who are in need of new territory. This corridor has and is showing potential to be wonderful habitat for a diverse number of local wildlife and plant species but has, in the recent past, met with human resistance to adapt, all to the beaver, and company’s demise.

My inspection of the area led me to believe there could and should be alternatives to the usual lethal trapping and so I have contacted Park Officials and others who might be concerned to try and start a dialogue. If the new expanding habitat could be accommodated there would be a tremendous opportunity for nature and wildlife viewing and experience for Park visitors, plus all the benefits to Park ecology. I think there could be possible trail re-location, road/trail enhancement, or protective structures or a combination that could be employed and end the recurrence of this problem plus gain all or part of the benefits from the new habitat.

I would appreciate any help or support in this matter where again NH Animal Rights League is willing to help fund a solution that protects creatures and habitat. The Park Officials need to hear from all of us that this matters!

http://www.nhstateparks.org, nhparks@dred.nh.gov, patrick.hummel@dred.nh.gov

Johanna Lyons
State Park Planning and Development Specialist
DRED – Division of Parks and Recreation
172 Pembroke Road, Concord, NH 03301
603/271-3556