Aragon given OK to go after beaver population, sets final rules for Mill Pond

Aragon’s beaver population is on notice according to Mayor Ken Suffridge, as the dams built by beavers recently at Mill Pond have caused water levels to drop. Suffridge i nformed the city council during their Sept. 17 session of the problem, citing posts on the Facebook page “You Know You Are From Aragon If” showing flooding on a nearby property caused by a group of beavers building dams along the stream feeding the Aragon mill pond.

The backed-up water is creating a aquatic wonderland for the tree-chopping critters, but is causing water levels to drop in the pond.

“We’ve been in contact with both DNR and EPD about the problem, and they have given permission for us to eradicate the beavers,” Suffridge said.

According to Suff- ridge, the city’s plan was devised with the cooperation of Randy Duncan, who owns the property in the area where the beavers reside.

Workers will blast the dams away during the day. They will hunt the beavers at night when the animals return to repair their dams.

“DNR authorized that, and we have waived the restrictions in this case for using a firearm in the city,” Suffridge said.

He said no timetable has been established for when the hunt will begin.“We’ll be working with the property owner on his schedule for this,” he said. Suffridge said the sooner the problem is taken care of, the better.

Suffridge also reported on a crack in the dam at the pond that needs repair, but said that it does not pose any immediate threat of causing the dam to break. He expected to have more to report to the city council on the issue in the coming months.

Even though the mill pond isn’t as full as it should be, the city still took steps to finalize rules for the area.

New set rules for the area include no littering, no alcoholic beverages of any kind, no boats or inner tubes, and no swimming or wading. Park hours are set from sunrise to 9:45 p.m., as was previously established after the issue was raised in July.

Council members voted unanimously for the new rules, along with a set of guidelines for fishing.

The council approved the following guidelines for anglers: those 16 or older must be licensed, a limit of 10 fish per person, keepers for catfish are 8 inches and bass 12 inches. All fish released must be placed back into the pond safely.

The council also approved a rule requiring that only rod and reel, pole or bow could be used at the mill pond.