Читать книгу Diet for a New America 25th Anniversary Edition - John Robbins - Страница 30

Sometimes children understand these things better than adults do. A young Girl Scout named Karyl Carter wrote a simple report that says it all so well.

A beaver who swam, dove and somersaulted among canoeing Girl Scouts—that’s what you would have seen at Camp Sacajawea Girl Scout Camp in Newfield, New Jersey, this summer.

It was a late morning discovery. Girls from Holly Shores Girl Scout Council were taking canoeing lessons in Sacy’s Lake when a large stump started to move and perform numerous swimming feats. Hearing laughter, squeals and screams, the waterfront director canoed out to the girls, identified the stump as a real beaver, and yelled to those on the beach, “Go get the rest of the camp…they’ve never seen anything like this before.” In no time flat, the entire camp lined the lakefront, playing audience to a most talented but different kind of swimmer.

The waterfront director, who was wary but excited, told the canoers, “Just keep canoeing, don’t pet the beaver, but enjoy the experience.” Meanwhile, a beach bystander ran to the camp office and called Hope Buyukmihci, naturalist and author, at Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, three miles away. “Are you missing a beaver…a very friendly one?” The answer was yes. The beaver was Chopper, an orphan Ms. Buyukmihci had raised from infancy, and he was now over a year old and beginning to make it on his own in the wild.

Minutes later, Hope drove in to Camp Sacy to con Chopper back home. But the next day Chopper was back in Sacy’s lake, entertaining campers with his swimabatics. “Maybe he’s building a dam. Maybe he’s going to raise a family,” said some of his young admirers.

All of us were excited over these prospects. We told Hope about Chopper’s whereabouts. She said he could stay and was happy that Chopper was on his own.

Every day the staff members kept Hope informed of Chopper’s activities. “He may try to climb into your boats,” she said, “but he’s just playing. He’ll dive off immediately. And he might just swim along or wrestle with you if you’re in the water!”

For the next three days, campers, leaders and staff members observed, petted, fed and just plain enjoyed Chopper. The Girl Scouts also learned about the looks, diet, habits and temperament of a beaver who is accustomed to the world of people.

During these beaver days, the atmosphere in the camp drastically changed. There was a profound awareness that there really was something alive and friendly out there in the woods and waters.

One afternoon the camp director decided to take some pictures of Chopper. He found him swimming in a swampy area near the Comanche campsite. An animal enthusiast, the director walked right into the swamp, click-clicked the camera, and was then promptly but playfully grabbed around the leg by Chopper. The following day was hectic, with camp closing and campers leaving. It wasn’t until late Saturday afternoon that a few remaining staff members decided to walk down to the lake to say goodbye to Chopper.

As we approached the lakefront, there were other last-minute beaver admirers standing on the dock. They screamed—“Come quickly!!!” We ran, only to find Chopper lying on the edge of the dock, dead.

These people, many of whom were young campers, had just witnessed an unidentified fisherman maliciously beat Chopper to death.

It seemed Chopper was disturbing this trespassing man’s sport. The fisherman, who was rowing away, shouted to us, “That thing tried to climb into my boat, so I hit it with my fishing pole. Then it started to hiss at me. I had to hit it with my oar.”

We wrapped Chopper up in a beach towel.

We cried…49