Beaver Lodge 1504 elects a new Beaver Queen
It's hard to know how to categorize this post. (not that i've gotten around to creating categories for this blog yet anyhow.)
Is it another example of how Durham is a great place to live? Is it an animal rights activity? Pop culture gone wild?
Here's the backstory, part 1.
Durham has a lot of flowing water. There are so many branches of the Ellerbe Creek that it's hard to name them all. And despite this being a fairly urban area, there's all kinds of wildlife living here. Redtail hawks, owls, rabbits, snakes, deer. And beaver. The beaver pond behind the old K-Mart on Avondale Dr. just north of the interstate is one of the largest east of the Appalachian mountains. If you know where to look you can find at least five dams holding back the flow, and the beaver lodge in the middle of the pond is at least fifteen feet in diameter.
Part 2.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is in the process of widening the aforementioned interstate from 4 lanes to 10 lanes in the vicinity of the old K-Mart. As mentioned, there are many branches of the Ellerbe right here, some of which cross the interstate. NCDOT did some rerouting of the creek, installing new culverts to carry the creek from one side of the interstate to the other. But they didn't think about the beaver when putting in the culverts, and the smart rodents figured out that the middle of the culvert was a pretty good place to put in a dam.
Of course, water started backing up, and getting close to people's yards. A couple of people complained about DOT's work, thinking that poor drainage was to blame. DOT investigated, discovered the beavers' responsibility, and proposed a solution. About a year and a half ago many residents living around the flooded area received a letter from DOT asking for their preference in dealing with the beavers. The options included shooting the beavers, dynamiting the beaver lodge, or trapping the beavers and euthanizing them. (It's against the law in NC to relocated a captured beaver.)
My neighbors reacted indignantly to these options, and after much discussion with various county officials, a plan was formulated to modify the beaver dam in such a way that the water level would recede to an acceptable depth, without having to destroy the beavers.
OK, that's the backstory.
Out of this grew Beaver Lodge 1504. And last night they hosted the second annual Beaver Queen Pageant.
Over 200 people gathered in the meadow behind the Duke Park bathhouse to watch the six contestants vie for the crown, competing in the traditional swimsuit, evening wear, and talent competitions.
June Cleaver Beaver, Anita Whacker, Wally "Legal Eagle Eager" Beaver, Jeannette Beaverette, Harriet Beofur, and Gayla Furlip were the entrants. Durham PD's own community affairs specialist and listserv and real-life hero Sgt. Dale Gunter headed up the judges panel.
June Cleaver Beaver got the proceedings under way with a stunning swimsuit entry.
The highlight of the swimsuit competition, for me, was Wally's entry.
In addition to the contestants, the audience were also treated to entertainment from the Preiss Family Singers, who performed (Somewhere) Over the River, (Somewhere over the river/Skies are blue/ And the streams that you dare to dam/Really do flow true.), and Oh, Give Me a Home (Oh give me a home/That is shaped like a dome/Which I built out of sticks, leaves and clay), accompanying themselves on the ukeleles, a special lapdance performance from Beverly Woody, the 2005 Beaver Queen, and the seldom performed Dance of the Seven Beavers.
In the end, June Cleaver Beaver was awarded the crown, and will represent Beaver Lodge 1504 in numerous events throughout the City of Durham over the next year, including the annual NC Pride Parade, and the Durham Christmas Parade. May her reign be glorious.
For a complete photographic rundown, click here.
Is it another example of how Durham is a great place to live? Is it an animal rights activity? Pop culture gone wild?
Here's the backstory, part 1.
Durham has a lot of flowing water. There are so many branches of the Ellerbe Creek that it's hard to name them all. And despite this being a fairly urban area, there's all kinds of wildlife living here. Redtail hawks, owls, rabbits, snakes, deer. And beaver. The beaver pond behind the old K-Mart on Avondale Dr. just north of the interstate is one of the largest east of the Appalachian mountains. If you know where to look you can find at least five dams holding back the flow, and the beaver lodge in the middle of the pond is at least fifteen feet in diameter.
Part 2.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is in the process of widening the aforementioned interstate from 4 lanes to 10 lanes in the vicinity of the old K-Mart. As mentioned, there are many branches of the Ellerbe right here, some of which cross the interstate. NCDOT did some rerouting of the creek, installing new culverts to carry the creek from one side of the interstate to the other. But they didn't think about the beaver when putting in the culverts, and the smart rodents figured out that the middle of the culvert was a pretty good place to put in a dam.
Of course, water started backing up, and getting close to people's yards. A couple of people complained about DOT's work, thinking that poor drainage was to blame. DOT investigated, discovered the beavers' responsibility, and proposed a solution. About a year and a half ago many residents living around the flooded area received a letter from DOT asking for their preference in dealing with the beavers. The options included shooting the beavers, dynamiting the beaver lodge, or trapping the beavers and euthanizing them. (It's against the law in NC to relocated a captured beaver.)
My neighbors reacted indignantly to these options, and after much discussion with various county officials, a plan was formulated to modify the beaver dam in such a way that the water level would recede to an acceptable depth, without having to destroy the beavers.
OK, that's the backstory.
Out of this grew Beaver Lodge 1504. And last night they hosted the second annual Beaver Queen Pageant.
Over 200 people gathered in the meadow behind the Duke Park bathhouse to watch the six contestants vie for the crown, competing in the traditional swimsuit, evening wear, and talent competitions.
June Cleaver Beaver, Anita Whacker, Wally "Legal Eagle Eager" Beaver, Jeannette Beaverette, Harriet Beofur, and Gayla Furlip were the entrants. Durham PD's own community affairs specialist and listserv and real-life hero Sgt. Dale Gunter headed up the judges panel.
June Cleaver Beaver got the proceedings under way with a stunning swimsuit entry.
The highlight of the swimsuit competition, for me, was Wally's entry.
In addition to the contestants, the audience were also treated to entertainment from the Preiss Family Singers, who performed (Somewhere) Over the River, (Somewhere over the river/Skies are blue/ And the streams that you dare to dam/Really do flow true.), and Oh, Give Me a Home (Oh give me a home/That is shaped like a dome/Which I built out of sticks, leaves and clay), accompanying themselves on the ukeleles, a special lapdance performance from Beverly Woody, the 2005 Beaver Queen, and the seldom performed Dance of the Seven Beavers.
In the end, June Cleaver Beaver was awarded the crown, and will represent Beaver Lodge 1504 in numerous events throughout the City of Durham over the next year, including the annual NC Pride Parade, and the Durham Christmas Parade. May her reign be glorious.
For a complete photographic rundown, click here.
Since 1949, Durhamites have slept soundly, secure in the knowledge that, in our town, erection can be depended upon. Now, thanks to the power of the internets, we can spread that security all over the world.
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