HB 2381 "Authorizing a beaver relocation permit" has just passed unanimously in the state House of Representatives. In an e-mailed statement, Rep. Joel Kretz (R-Wauconda) says:
“While the media has poked a little fun at this bill, I promise it’s a serious issue,” Kretz said laughing. “In all seriousness, this bill will be very helpful and cost-effective for landowners in our district that are looking for different solutions to water storage on their land. Considering the pending legislation that has the potential to de-water the 7th district, this bill is one step to retain every drop of water in our district’s watersheds.”It sounds like a good idea, but it's still pretty darn funny. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 13, 2006 12:06 PM | Email ThisKretz says beavers are nature’s own water storage stewards and have proven to help the ecosystem around streams and create natural water storage in the upper watersheds - at no cost to taxpayers.
An acronym of BUSH for Beavers United to Save Habitat would never fly in the legislature.
:-)
Posted by: timman on February 13, 2006 01:05 PMWill I have to pay for beaver health insurance? Sounds like state insurance is off limits.
Posted by: Buck on February 13, 2006 02:49 PMWhere are the priorities? FIRE THE BASTARDS!!
Posted by: TH on February 13, 2006 02:53 PMNow I wish I'd gradated from Ballard High.
Posted by: Al on February 13, 2006 09:59 PMOh; yeah: Full disclosure:
Before he became State Representative Joel Kretz, he was President of my Okanogan County Farm Bureau; and lead the charge on the RMAP fight against the State agency bureaucrats; and we turned out about 350 people for a hearing in Olympia a couple years that some long-time legislative staffers told me was the biggest crowd they had ever seen at any one hearing.
And why did this pass unanimously ??... well...:
Probably because until now it was illegal for private parties to trap and transport beavers; only State agents could do it. So what did the state do ?.. To meet the requirements of the recent 'live trapping' law, the state would carefully trap nuisance beavers in live traps... and then whack them over the head with a club or shoot them or whatever, because it was too expensive to transport and release them (only in the government).
Sooo....: With the passage of HB 2381 (if it passes the Senate and gets signed by the Gov), PRIVATE ENTERPRISE can take nuisance beavers and relocate them where they are wanted; instead of having some state agency whack them over the head with a club and kill them... who's your daddy now... At least you know some of the 'Paul Harvey rest of the story'.
SIDEBAR: Anybody want a couple of my beavers ??..
The island in the Methow River where it runs thru the middle of my place is loaded with them; they keep coming over to my side of the river and chewing up my small trees.
If you did not know it, this Boeing location is a great indicator as to how nature will flourish in an urban setting. A REAL GEM, stuck between I-5 & I-405 at the site of the old racetrack.
There are lakes with fish, beavers, muskrats, fox, bald eagles, red tail weasels, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, many species of ducks, and a bird watchers haven. You should check it out.