Montreal, December 23, 2015 – The Montreal SPCA recently learned that the municipality of Verdun is once again this year, planning to hire trappers to trap and kill beavers that are causing some damage to trees in the community. Beavers are intelligent, monogamous animals who play a vital role in the ecosystem. In fact, 50% of North America’s threatened or endangered species rely on beaver wetlands for survival. Trapping and killing beavers is not only inhumane and unsafe (as other non-targeted animals can be caught in the traps), it represents only a short-term solution as other beavers will return to the area to fill the opening in habitat.
The Montreal SPCA, in partnership with the Association for the Protection of Fur-bearing Animals (FBD), has offered to provide Verdun with a cost-effective, ethical and non-lethal alternative to control tree-chewing that will also help preserve the vital ecosystem created by beavers. Thus far, the municipality has declined our offer and is moving forward with its plan to hire trappers to trap and kill the beavers. “We are outraged that the municipality of Verdun is once again opting to use cruel, unnecessary and ineffective solutions, said Nicholas Gilman, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA.
The mayor of Verdun, Jean-François Parenteau admits that his past results from trapping and killing were not very successful, and though the traps only caught two beavers, they trapped many dogs[i]. Please contact mayor Parenteau, and politely ask him to work with the Montreal SPCA and the FBD and choose a humane, non-lethal and effective solution to beaver issues at: Jean-francois.parenteau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
For more information about beavers and how to co-exist with them peacefully, please visit: http://furbearerdefenders.com/what-we-do/living-with-wildlife/beavers/about-beavers (only available in English)
-30-
Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514-226-3932, or anitak@spca.com.
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane society in Canada and our mission is to:
- protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
- represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
- raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.
For more information about the Montreal SPCA, please visit our website at www.spca.com.
