I had a beautiful stand of birch saplings growing right on our shorefront and I had high hopes for them to take the place of a dying 20 foot blue spruce 3 feet behind them. Two weekends ago, all but 2 of the saplings had been gnawed right down to a 3" stub. My husband joked about reporting the beavers to the state for violation of the shoreland protection rules.
Shorethings, I love your idea about having dogs do community service. Our dog is now too old and blind to see the beavers, never mind patrol our shore. If you come across any scofflaw, stick-chasing dogs, send them our way please.
