Hello, fellow lovers of all things green,
Episode 211 of the Garden Dilemmas Podcast, titled The Truth and Tale of Two Country Gardens, shares a story written while taking a fiction class. However, much of the story is based on my experience working with clients to enhance their gardens around their two historic homes. The mystery part of the story was inspired by how trees communicate, as described in The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, along with some of the oddities that occurred while working there.
One exchange went like this, though I’ve changed the names to protect the innocent (smile).
“There used to be a family of beavers. Then, the neighbor began to hunt them; I’m not sure why. During Hurricane Sandy, the dam broke and flooded their garden,” Earnest said.
Beaver
We meander down the mossy path leading to the location of the broken dam, then to where they wish to have a respite spot and modest garden. The shade of the surrounding trees was a welcome relief from the cruel heat of the day, their leaves faintly rustling as if to welcome us.
“I’m sure if the beavers were still active shoring up the dam, it wouldn’t have broken. The neighbor blamed it on me and put together a lawsuit.”
“Wait a minute, you said she was the one who hunted the beavers?”
“I’m not sure she did; she likely hired someone to, and that would not have been me. I am rather fond of wildlife, and beavers especially fascinate me.”
Earnest’s proper English accent and dry delivery made the story that much more remarkable.
“They are the only mammal, other than humans, that builds their own homes.”
(I invite you to tune in to the whole story, which is sure to intrigue and entertain — link at the bottom of the post.)
***
Revisiting the dialog reminds me of an exchange with a neighbor a decade ago.
Is it a beaver or a woodchuck?
Help! A woodchuck is eating my trees, writes Lucia, and he’s moved in right near my front door where there’s a deep hole about a foot in diameter. So, I think, do I bake a cake, bring some wine, or what? Who can I call to help him move to the San Diego Zoo?
Sincerely, Crowded in Blairstown.
What clever wit Lucia has, who lived across Johnsonburg Creek from me; hence, her dilemma could also be mine.
While they are known to eat a twig or two, the name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood. It’s derived from the Native American words Wejack, Woodshaw, or Woodchoock. Woodchucks (also known as groundhogs) prefer soft plant tissue, such as grasses, vegetables, and leaves.
My bet is you have a beaver eating the trees and a groundhog living by your front door. Quite a party!
Woodchucks build remarkable homes with multiple exits and chambers. Beavers, on the other hand, burrow into banks with entrances to their dens underwater.
Woodchuck aka Groundhog
The beaver, Castor Canadensis, is North America’s largest rodent and can readily chew and drop trees up to 2.5 feet in diameter or more. A beaver will drop a large tree at the edge of a river or creek to begin a dam (uh oh, we have that!), which serves as a foundation and a filter to catch the floating debris the beaver will harvest upstream.
How to Remedy a Beaver or Woodchuck Dilemma?
There’s no spray or device to deter your hefty invaders, and while you can prevent tree-gnawing by wrapping chicken wire around the trunk, it’s challenging to do so on 100 trees.
Eviction is the only practical way. For woodchucks, have a heart (the trap, that is) or don’t have a heart. It’s up to you and your dog, but please don’t tell me about it. There’s something about being fuzzy.
Beaver removal is more challenging, and you’ll likely need a permit to do it yourself, which is also true in New Jersey. I suggest leaving it to the experts. In our neck of the woods, contact the NJ Wildlife Control service (908-735-8793). In Pennsylvania, there’s the Northeast Pennsylvania Game Commission (570-675-1143), but check with your local authorities wherever you live.
When I called, the dispatcher said that unless beavers are causing flooding, they give the animal the benefit of the doubt, as beavers often move on if they don’t like where they are. Maybe best to skip the cake, Miss Hospitality.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com (and now on your favorite Podcast App.)
Direct link to the above-mentioned Episode of the Garden Dilemmas Podcast:
And a sequel to the story, you’ll also enjoy:
Another fine column, however, you should tell Lucia that if she brings wine, the beaver will chew more trees, build a condo and set a table for the next time.
Good advise, Ken, :^) But there are already several downed trees clogging up the flow of things. Maybe Miss Hospitality couldn’t help herself. Smile. Thank you for your kind words and your heartfelt support of my podcast and column over the years. It means so much, Mary