EARLY HISTORY OF MOUNT DESERT ISLAND MAINE: LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK GETS ANOTHER BEAVER

Bar Harbor Times

May 12. 1920

Another Beaver Comes To Lafayette National Park

Animal Captured In Streets Of Monmouth, Set Free At Eagle Lake

Dr. George A. Phillips received a beaver from the Commissioners of Fish and Game last week. The beaver was captured in the streets of Monmouth. This is a very unusual occurrence and one of interest. A letter following tells something of the details of the capturing of the animal. The beaver was immediately taken to Eagle Lake when he arrived here and was liberated at the upper end of the lake near the dam built by the beaver left there last year.

The late arrival is a male beaver and the one liberated last year is a female. It is feared that the beaver which built the dam near Otter Creek last year did not survive the unusually severe winter. His house was wrecked by dynamite in an effort to locate some trace of him, but with no trace being found. The efforts to establish colonies of beaver in the Lafayette National Park have been a subject of great interest to residents and summer residents and the news of another arrival of another of theses interesting animals will be very welcome to lovers of wildlife.

The letter from the Department of Fish and Game follows;

Dr. George A. Phillips;

Dear Dr. Phillips;

By request of Mr. James, who had not time this morning to write you a personal letter, I am giving you the facts regarding the beaver recently shipped you.

The morning before the animal was shipped to you the office received a telephone message from Harry E. Merrill, they were able to capture the animal was by "roping" or "lassoing" it, which was skillfully accomplished by Mr. Merrill, who then quickly transferred it from the place where found to a box stall in the barn, where it was held until Mr, James arrived.

This was the first beaver that had ever been seen in that community so far as we have been able to learn. There are no beaver in the immediate vicinity of this town, the nearest colony being in the westerly part of the country, near the Fayette and Wayne line, at least twelve miles distance. The citizens of Monmouth seem to be of the impression that this beaver evidently strayed from this colony, but of course we have no definite information regarding it. If we learn any further facts in relation to the animal's origin, of course will promptly advise you.

We are very very glad to know that it arrived safely; Mr, James took special pains to make a good string crate so you would not have the difficukty that you did with the last one sent. Mr. Parsons, with whom I have just been in telephone communications, is much pleased to hear that the animal is nicely established in its new home.

With kind regards;

Yours Very truly,

M.H. Hodgdon

Chief Clerk