An episode appeared twice a month
in The Michigan Farmer magazine.
Flattail Is Made a Prisoner
"I see Flattail now!" Jerry exclaimed. He was looking through
the binoculars from the top of the fire tower the next day.
I took the binoculars for a moment. "He's sitting on the bank
near the lodge!" I exclaimed.
"Tell us about the enemy," Jerry interrupted, remembering
Uncle Joe's promise of the day before.
Uncle Joe smiled and stroked his chin. "Not so fast young man,"
he said, "I was just getting to that."
"It was one day last spring that Flattail first learned the real
meaning of the slap of a beaver tail as a danger signal. The snow had
all melted from the banks of Friendly Creek and it was warm in the sunshine
among the cattails.
"Flattail was sunning himself. The other beavers were swimming
about enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. They were busily repairing
the dam where the spring floods had torn the top off it. They carried
sticks in their mouths or scoops of mud held tightly between their front
paws as they swam. They swam with just the head showing above the water.
"Slap! A flat beaver tail hit the water. In a twinkling all of
the beavers had disappeared — all except Flattail. He was asleep
on the bank. The sunshine must have made him drowsy for he was all curled
up enjoying the warmth.
"I was watching Flattail very closely, because I knew what it
was that had frightened the beavers. I could see him very clearly with
the binoculars although he was hidden well enough. At first I thought
it was one of the men from the Conservation Department who was out to
catch some of the beavers for transplanting."
"What is the Conservation Department and what does beaver transplanting
mean, Uncle Joe?" Jerry asked.
"The Conservation Department is part of our state government,"
Uncle Joe replied. "The men in the department work to protect the
animals in the forests, the fish in the streams, the birds, and the
forests, and streams themselves.
"Transplanting beavers is part of the conservation work. When
there are a number of beavers where the food is growing scarce, some
of the beavers are caught in a trap which does not harm them. They are
then taken to another stream some distance away to start another colony."
"Then," Jerry stammered, "you must be a conservation--."
"Officer," Uncle Joe finished for him. "I look after
part of this forest and I'm called a conservation officer."
"But the enemy, Uncle Joe," Jerry prompted.
Uncle Joe nodded and continued. "He was creeping up through the
underbrush with a large net in his hand. He meant to catch Flattail.
He may have wanted the little fellow for a pet. He may have wanted to
sell him. Or he may have wanted him for his fine, soft fur. I never
did find out.
"Up the man came, step by step. Flattail still dozed. His mother
came up out of the water by the side of the house and tried to call
to him. She slapped her tail a couple of times.
"Swish! Flattail was awake. He started to his feet. The net was
upon him. He was fighting desperately, as the man pulled the net together."
Click HERE to read "Flattail
Is Made a Prisoner, Part 2"
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© 2004 Leo VanMeer
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