Transplant North Beaver – Part Two

The federal government decided to try to replace the beaver population in the northern Great Slave Lake. It was 1954 and dad had just taken a job as a game official in Yellowknife. I was about 8 years old. For this transplant beaver had need of a canoe in the channel of Frank at the north end of the lake. Dad drove a twenty footer Yellowknife to our destination near Fort Rae. We arrived in the afternoon, set up camp and crashed. It had been a hard day on the lake.

Beaver must have access to water and also have a dry place to sleep. These were the factors that determine how pens built for them. We walked around the poles cut shrubs and Dad, lots and lots of clubs, 6 to 8 feet long (sorry we were not an indicator of days) about 1-1/2 to 2 meters. What made the cut and cut branches, and I did the packing. It took a whole day to reach the poles of the coast. We were prepared for the future of the construction.

He had to hurry. The beaver was beginning to arrive later that day, our second full day on the site. Construction of the pens was really no problem. The river bottom was mud and it was easy to drive the poles of a pair of feet below. With all the poles for three pens of good size, began to stretch the wire mesh fence big and pushing it down by what was right in the bottom mud. Nails were driven at the poles to secure the lead and we were well prepared for our visitors.

The first group arrived later that afternoon along with a pair of biologists to help in the process. First, was the task of determining the sex of each beaver. Males in a pen, women in another corral, and when there was no time, beaver undetermined entered a third pen. Lagos to receive the couple had already been chosen, and transplants began immediately.

Two days later the work was complete. All crew, except for Dad and I jumped on planes and thirty minutes later they were in Yellowknife. Dad and I cleaned the camp, refurbishment of the canoe, and headed back to Great Slave Lake. We spent one night on a rocky island, and the next day we were back in Yellowknife.

A few years ago was back in the area to take a trip down the river to Lake Stagg Stagg (another trip that will tell you later), and there were plenty of signs of beaver everywhere. There is no doubt that the castor transplant was a success!

Look for Ken is a third generation native of the Northwest Territories. Where most children are riding bikes, driving a dog team or running a canoe. He will share his life experiences camping in the north, as well as giving tips and advice on camping equipment. http://lookoutdoors.ca