Membership Sideblog
- The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pmGrowing up in North Dakota during the 50s and 60s, I was privileged to experience something that's all too rare now - the old-fashioned family doctor. "Doc" delivered babies, set broken bones, treated pneumonia, and helped Grandpa with his newfangled hearing aid. Doc knew the community, the families, and the individuals whose basic medical needs he treated from birth through the end of life. Some of you who grew up in that time, and perhaps in smaller communities, may remember a Doc of your own. . . . → Read More: The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
- Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
July 28, 2010 | 10:51 pm
Let’s talk about cats, cats and more cats! Why?? Because Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is full of cats and we have many more arriving daily. As of today, there are 44 cats on the adoption floor with more awaiting their surgeries so they are ready for adoption. There are cats in every corner of the shelter who need homes! We are in desperate need of homes for these cats. We cannot emphasize this enough. So we are having a cat sale and we are calling it Kitty Mania ! Kitty Mania is this weekend, beginning Thursday, July . . . → Read More: Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
July 12, 2010 | 11:50 am
The free market does many things well, but we know it does not do everything. Even market fundamentalists concede that the public must build roads, put out fires, police streets, and provide national defense. Most people, at least those to the left of the Tea Party edge of political spectrum, accept that the government must also be involved in education, disaster relief, and health care. That is, certain services must be rendered — necessary services, universal services — whether or not those services are financially profitable. If your house is on fire, you do not have time to . . . → Read More: On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
- Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
July 12, 2010 | 10:56 am
Okay, so most of the news about the Vintage Band Festival so far has been about the bands. But there’s a number of other events during the weekend. Like the VBF Contra Dance, for instance. The Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance will feature music by The Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan and will be led by dance instructor/caller Robin Nelson. Dancing will begin at 8:30 p.m. with a “Grand March” led by 60 costumed members of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Brigade, followed by a variety of period dances including polkas, contra dances, schottisches, reels and waltzes. . . . → Read More: Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
- The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
June 27, 2010 | 8:00 am
Even before I read the first word of this article I had a visceral reaction to it. The accompanying photographs — my eyes tend to skip over photographs in magazines — affected me in a manner that is difficult to articulate. I knew, immediately I knew, I was not going to like what I was about to read. In fact, for that reason I put the piece aside. Not now, I thought. Maybe tomorrow, I said to myself. But, then, I couldn’t not read it, either. If you have not done so already, I hope you will read . . . → Read More: The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
- Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
June 27, 2010 | 7:54 am
June may be Adopt A Cat month here at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society and we have lots of wonderful cats, but we also have PUPPIES! We have a male Newfoundland mix named Chong who is 6 months old, he was a stray so we don’t know a lot about him. He loves to play! We also have three Australian Cattle Dog mixes who are two months old. Marcia, Bobby and Cindy were born at the shelter and spent some time in one of our fabulous foster homes. They are now back at the shelter and ready to find . . . → Read More: Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
- Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
June 23, 2010 | 9:35 pm
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at local parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Relay for Life of Rice . . . → Read More: Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
- Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
June 16, 2010 | 9:04 amNow Showing! Live Kittens playing! You can now watch our adoptable animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) live 24/7 on the new Critter Cam installed in conjunction with KYMN Radio. Thanks to the fine folks at KYMN radio we now have a live feed of our adoptable animals showing on our website and KYMN’s website, Tim and Jeff are AWESOME! Currently the Critter Cam is featuring kittens available for adoption. Watch them play, sleep, eat, and everything else they do 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It’s better than anything you can see on TV! . . . → Read More: Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
June 11, 2010 | 11:34 am
A BIG Thanks to all of you who came to last Monday’s Volunteer Organization Meeting, and to those who contacted us saying you wanted to help but could not make the meeting. We have pretty full support for Communications and Design and Build sub-committees, and we got a web graphic designer to help with the site. Alice Thomas is facilitating the Communications group, and Steve Edwins is facilitating the Design and Build group. What we are missing and really need are Fund Raising people. We have two grant writiers, but we need folks who are committed to the . . . → Read More: Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
- Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
June 11, 2010 | 8:09 am
Thank you to all of those who came to Alexander Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in May to help support Prairie’s Edge Humane Society! I have placed all of the fun photographs on my Bridgette Hallcock Photography Facebook page so that everyone can see how much fun we had! See the two 2010 Walk for the Animals albums here and here. If you would like a print, please contact me, as the proceeds will benefit the animals at PEHS.
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Beavers handing it to the City
By Griff Wigley, on November 1, 2008, 5:46 am
  Spring Creek flows under Jefferson Parkway at Prairie Street, forming 3 ponds in Spring Creek Park north of the parkway. (Click photos to enlarge.) A walking/bike path surrounds the pond with a footbridge over the creek at the north end of the area. See the screenshot of the Google satellite view with the arrow pointing to the footbridge (right). See this live Google map of the area to zoom in and out.
Back in mid-September, City of Northfield Wastewater Superintendent Glenn Lindroos wrote in the Friday Memo for the week of September 15-19, 2008 about the beaver dam at the footbridge.
Beavers have created a pond in an undeveloped area in the south end of town. The water is over the top of one manhole making it inaccessible for inspection. The Department of Natural Resources was contacted to see what remedies are available. The DNR has no problem with the City destroying the dam to drain the area and encourage the beaver to move. If they persist in rebuilding in the area we can get a permit from the conservation officer to have the animals trapped out. A backhoe was used to destroy the dam. Staff will check the area next week to see if the beaver remain active in the area.
Since the City destroyed the original beaver dam, the beavers have been inspired to rebuild the dam ASAP, destroying thousands of dollars of area trees in the process.
  
Many trees in the area on city park property have taken a hit (above photos).
  
Dozens of trees in neighboring homeowner yards have also been hit hard. Wire mesh at the base of the neighbors’ trees to prevent damage has had to be heightened. I got this email from a neighbor:
Well, the beavers have nearly done us in!! Now they have cleared out most of the dogwoods. They climbed up above the metal wrap we put on the aspens and redbuds and have gone after them, and although so far they haven’t felled them, I’m sure they are dead. Only the evergreens and the oaks escape them. Our neighbor told us beavers took down a six inch oak at their cabin, so now we are going to reinforce the metal on them. Anybody know a bow hunter??
It seems to me that the City make a mistake in destroying the first beaver dam. According to this Wisconsin DNR document (PDF) on beaver management, destroying a beaver dam is the LAST option to try and is often not successful. Controlling water levels with “beaver pipes” can often be a better option (see p. 7):
Water levels in beaver ponds can be regulated so that, although the ponds remains, the water level is not so high that it causes damage. Or, if the beaver cannot keep the water level high, they may get discouraged and move to a new sight [sic].
More on beaver pipes here.
Can homeowners kill the beavers on their own inside city limits by trapping them or shooting them with a bow and arrow? Will the Friends of Beavers Association care?
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but I’d have a hard time during the sabbatical not paying attention to see if that was actually the case. I think the more places in Northfield...
We’ve enjoyed watching the beavers all summer and fall. The new rebuilt dam is so much better than the old dam. rumor has it that some of the felled trees were planted on city property illegally. Not sure if that is true or not, but they did appear in a strange spot. The grass in this same area was being mowed and the city does not typically mow it. I guess the beavers took matters into their own hands.
I’ve found the best time to watch the beaver family is dusk. I’m not sure if they will follow the time change, never seen the beavers wearing watches. I’ve seen a green heron in the area as well and occasionally a blue heron perches on top of the bridge. Maybe the city could send the skunks packing and keep the beavers.
I would have been amused by this story a week ago. Since then I took a walk in Connecticut past a lake which housed MANY beavers (judging both by the damage and the number of dens). The beavers had taken down many trees, including a few of 18-24 inches in diameter, leaving some stunning stumps. A number of other trees weren’t down yet but would clearly die since the bark at the appropriate level was gone. I hope the city takes this seriously.
Griff,
Here is the link to the MN DNR site to answer your questions presented in your article:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/beaver/index.html
However, one should also look for the various hunting ordinances within City limits.
Also, destroying the dam with a backhoe? That doesn’t sound very environmentally friendly, and against what is posted on that link.
Thanks for that link, John. Since the beaver dam is not on private property, area homeowners evidently can’t get rid of the beavers on their own.
I’ve emailed City of Northfield Wastewater Superintendent Glenn Lindroos to see if he’ll comment here.
[...] 11, 2008 by mynortherngarden As has been blogged about elsewhere, a beaver family has taken up residence in my neighborhood. At first, I found the beavers [...]