David Goodman, Princeton
To the editor:
Brian Zack’s urging beaver advocates “to get a grip” (letter May 31) unfortunately misses the point.
I can’t speak for all, but some who objected to the recent shooting of beavers in Princeton Community Park understood there may have been a problem. It’s the solution that led to the outrage.
The quick, execution-style killing of the beavers cut off any consideration of other options. This situation was further aggravated by the characterization of the beavers as “nuisance” animals.
It is clear from other letters in the local newspapers that there are alternatives, far short of shooting or euthanizing these animals. So, let’s make a clear distinction between where the actions of the Princeton animal control officer are appropriate and where they may not be.
When foxes are found on people’s property and attacking dogs, that clearly calls for the animal control officer to act. When beavers are in a pond, building dams, doing what is natural to the species, and not causing harm except for the possible inconvenience of some rising water levels, that needs to be taken out of his province and, probably, the Township Administrator’s too given his current attitude. What the “outrage” calls for instead are more imaginative, compassionate solutions and engaging the advice and experience of talented volunteers and not easy bureaucratic responses. That’s where many of us are looking to our elected officials, in this case the Township Committee, to provide leadership.
I welcome Dr. Zack’s call for focus on the enormous distress in our world but would remind him that it is in localities and in dealing with local issues that concerned citizens can often have the most direct effect. And, in Princeton Township and Borough, where we pay among the highest local taxes in the nation, we have a right to expect better.
David Goodman
Princeton

