ETNA, Maine — At least one sharp-toothed beaver chewed through a tree, causing it to fall across Route 143 near its intersection with Burke Lane, blocking the busy road entirely to traffic for 90 minutes Monday afternoon.
“A beaver had cut a white birch that was about a foot-and-a-half in diameter and about 25 feet tall,” said Etna Fire Chief Shawn Ryder. “The whole road was blocked at the corner of 143 and Burke.”
The timing couldn’t have been much worse as it occurred about a half-hour before the school day ended at the nearby Etna-Dixmont School.
“The call came in at 2:34 p.m., and we were on scene within a few minutes,” said Ryder.
A fully outfitted forestry unit — or heavy duty brush truck pickup — from the Etna Fire Department responded, along with a pickup truck and crew of three from the Maine Department of Transportation.
“They also had a chainsaw, so we cut up the tree in the road and then cut another one the same size down, because the beavers had been at that one, too, and if we hadn’t cut it, we would’ve been right back there again later today or tomorrow at the latest,” Ryder said. “We were able to get traffic going in pretty short order.”
The crew of seven took about 45 minutes to clear the road and cut the other tree down. The road was closed for approximately 90 minutes.
This isn’t the first time public crews have had to respond to beaver-related calls in the area, which is prone to flooding and downed trees.
“We have a huge problem over there because there’s a big bog there, and we’re probably out there for something once every three months or so,” Ryder said.
Ryder said he doesn’t expect any charges against the beavers to be forthcoming, and that no mug shots of the buck-toothed suspects were available.
Road was closed for 90 minutes and a crew of 7 people took 45 minutes to cut up one tree in the road and cut down 1 partially beaver chewed tree off the roadside……I am speechless……the road was closed for 90 minutes??….Crazy…..
Beavers don’t think about safety, theirs or ours. Our authorities have to be cautious and safety-minded.
Gotta pour out the love for a crazy, reckless, big brown beaver!
Absolutely agree….but, have myself been cutting trees and wood safely for about 40 years….never took 45 minutes to cut one tree or clean up a small mess…..just say’in…..major road closed for 90 minutes…..Crazy…..
Probably took 15 minutes to limb and cut up both trees and the balance of the time to decide who was going to get the wood.
LOL!…..Hey, fighting for free wood can be worth the effort…..
Sounds like the same beaver crew that was recently rounded up and deported from Orrington ……..revenge is sweet !
D.O.T. boys leaning on their shovel..
I think they should have hired the beaver to cut it up and haul it away….wouldn’t have taken 90 minutes! Quite sad to see this story, “crew of 7 took 45 minutes” WHAT????? :(
How long did it take the DOT and those from the FD to respond? It may have only taken 45 minutes to remove the problem, but it takes time to arrive, and assess the problem before taking action.
When the average Joe cuts down a tree, he usually doesn’t have to worry about is the area safe, how many cars are going to try to drive through the area he is working in, another tree falling that has already been chewed on by a beaver, OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Standards or the media. One picture posted in the media of a firefighter or DOT worker working to remove the tree without the proper safety equipment and OSHA and BLS is up the behinds. As I always say, if you think you can do it better, find out when your fire department meets and join! I am sure you would then see it from a different angle.
I thought all Mainers were required to carry a chainsaw with them at all times. LOL!
John, you woul be sursprise how many people do carry a chainsaw in their truck. I am one that does.
I wasn’t trying to be funny, I almost always had chainsaw, or at least a campsaw in my truck when I was out on the road………. That’s why I said what I said. One never knows when you will need it.
chainsaw,wagon jack, chain or big nylon rope. And an absolute must is a Delorme gazetteer.
Beavers are supposed to be busy.
What I’d like to know is if this rascally rodent procured all necessary permitting prior to removal of said vegetation!
Oh that dam beaver not getting their paper work in order again ;-) I wonder if the Department of Conservation was notified of this improper harvesting of wood in a wet area :-0
Wynonna
Well beaver trapping starts Dec 1 in this WMD, beaver prices have been slowly been creeping up the last few years, and with the current economy a lot more people are knocking the rust off their traps.
I thought this story was about Alexis Wright.