DESOTO COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - They're the builders of the animal world but for humans, their hard work isn't always appreciated. Beavers are causing big problems in DeSoto County. There are too many of the animals building dams and cutting down trees. Now the county is looking at ways to cut down their population.
"My wife and I began to notice sometimes we were missing some trees from the island on the pond in front of house," says Joe Lauderdale. One by one, Lauderdale's trees disappeared.
"We had four nice trees growing on the island now we only have one." The culprits: beavers. Several of them are sneaking in at night, chewing on his property.
Lauderdale serves on Desoto's utility board and says the pesky animals are creating problems throughout the county.
"We've had a lot of calls coming in," he adds, saying they're more trouble than people realize.
They're not just a nuisance; the county also has problems with beavers blocking culverts which can cause roads to flood.
"They'd cause a real problem there damming some streams up and major tributaries," Lauderdale tells abc24.com.
The county has to constantly clear ditches to prevent flooding. They're not stopping the animals, so the board of supervisors is looking into other solutions. One idea is to offer a bounty of $5 to $10 for pelts.
"I think it would be a good idea. We need some more control on them getting out of hand," Lauderdale says. "Trying to control them is what we're looking for, not to eradicate them, just try to control them."
