http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2.../14789121.html
Now this
Marauding beaver shot dead in Red Deer park
By DAVE DORMER, QMI Agency
CALGARY - Red Deer police are now investigating after someone shot and killed a beaver in a city park, in an area where several dogs have been attacked by a marauding rodent.
A canoeist found the beaver - believed to be three or four-years-old - in the water near Three Mile Bend Recreation Area, in the city north of Calgary, said parks superintendent Trevor Poth.
"It was killed by a gunshot," he said. "We're just shocked and dismayed anyone would discharge a firearm within the city limits."
Beavers have been blamed for a half-dozen attacks on dogs in that area - one which saw a Husky killed - and police are looking into the possibility someone was looking for revenge.
"It does lead one to speculate that but we don't want to confine our thoughts," said RCMP Cpl. Kathe DeHeer. "But at this point in time we can't say whether it's associated to that."
Most disturbing in this case, said DeHeer, is the fact a firearm was used.
"For one thing, it is a public park," she said.
"This could be a very dangerous situation when you have a person discharging a firearm, if they miss the target, the bullet keeps going on until it hits somebody or something else.
Poth said city officials are frustrated by the senseless killing because they were planning to move the colony of beavers.
"We felt we had a good handle on the situation and were making good strides to move forward in a positive way so for us, it's a double whammy.
"The work we invested, someone has turned around and decided to take action into their own hands."
Poth said there is one dam in the area, which is likely home to between five and 12 beavers.
dave.dormer@sunmedia.ca