Beavers Are Back in Starke County Forest

Posted on June 15, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

An ongoing saga at the Starke County Forest was recently brought to the attention of Park Board President Richard Ballard. “The beavers are back,” Ballard told the rest of the Starke County Park Board Tuesday. “I don’t know exactly what that means for us, but he said the beavers are back.”

Beavers in the forest have previously been blamed for flooding at a neighboring property, and trapping has taken place in the past, to try to solve the problem.

Board Member Chris Lawrence suggested that Forester Bruce Wakeland might consider leasing out beaver trapping rights, similar to what he does with deer hunting. But County Attorney Marty Lucas wasn’t sure that would help. “I don’t know if there’s a market for summer mink pelts,” he joked.

Board Member Rosemary Rose said she’d rather see the beavers relocated than trapped. “I am one of these people that are like, ‘Save the beaver,’ because there are people that will come in and relocate them,” she said, “but I know I can’t save the world.”

Board Member Lawrence asked Lucas what the county’s responsibility is, when it comes to drainage issues around the forest. “With the upstream landowners, that was we just have to maintain the water at that level, right?” Lawrence asked.

“That’s the thing, see, how much are you supposed to do?” Lucas responded. “I mean, that’s the right question. Because what’s your responsibility? I’m going to have to agree with Rosie that it isn’t our responsibility to go and kill every beaver in the world.”

Lawrence offered to go and take a look at the forest. “But don’t go out there being a beaver hater,” Rose joked. “Just go out there with an open mind, please!”

Forester Wakeland was not in attendance during Tuesday’s meeting.