Got called earlier this week about Beaver working in the overflow channels of the Flood Control Project near my home. This area has a large dam and dyke to divert water from the Chena River, into the Tanana River, to prevent flooding of the Fairbanks/North Pole area. Keeping the overflow channels clear of Beaver Dams is crucial for the proper operation of the system. Where the gate opens that brings water under the dyke, there is a small pond. This pond covers about an acre. I went to Fish and Game to get a permit to shoot the Beaver, since trapping in this highly used camping area is not a good idea. Seen one kid caught on a Connibear, don't want to see that again.
Went out at 4 AM this morning. By 4:20 I was sitting on the side of the channel with my .17HMR. About five minutes after I sat down I saw movement out on the water. At first I got excited thinking it was a Beaver. After about 10 minutes if got light enough to see the head was too small, it was a Muskrat. Then a second Muskrat joined the first. A small flock of ducks came in and landed on the water. As it got more light what I had taken to be brush on the other side of the pond turned into Moose. There was three Cows, one with two babies, the other two had one baby each. That says there is a Bear or a Pack of Wolves in the area. Since no one had reported seeing wolves, I felt it had to be a Bear. About 5:20 a Beaver came out, swimming around the pond. I waited till it came close enough I felt I could hit where I wanted to. I waited till the Beaver turned away from me then placed the scope on the base of the skull. Beaver rolled over and floated. I sat there waiting for the second one to come out. At 6:30 decided the other Beaver had left the area or was not going to come out any time soon. I snagged the floating Beaver with a small fishing rod and Bass Plug, dragging it to the shore. As I walked up to my truck I saw a baby Moose across the channel running around frantically. I sat in the truck for a while watching this small Moose. At 7 AM I drove around to the gate, went through it back to the area of the frantic baby.
A bike path runs parallel to the channel, and I was driving out the bike path. When I got to the area of the baby Moose, it was still there. The baby would run up to the woods beside the bike path, stand for a moment then run down to the water. Circle around at the water, then run back up to the bike path. As I approached the baby quite running and stopped down by the water. When I got to the point where the Baby was running to along the bike path, the woods opened up to see a small grassy area. There was a Grizzly eating what looked like Mama Moose. I sat there for about 10 minutes, during which the Grizz would occasionally look up and stare at my Yellow S-10. The Grizz never made a move to leave the carcass. It was beginning to get light enough one could see across the channel to the road. Traffic was beginning to pick up on the road. I decided to leave since I don't like people, (Park guest) seeing me behind the locked gates. They get real upset if they see me with a dead Beaver in the truck. I stopped and talked with the Park Rangers, so they could close the bike path along the channel for a few days.
