Beavers have been considered a nuisance in Toms River as their dam building has caused overflowing of Lake Placid and flooding in surrounding areas. The solution to hire a state-licensed trapper to take care of the beaver population has met protests as they would rather see humane methods employed.

“Killing animals because we find them inconvenient should not be an option,” said Veronica Van Hof, director of the wildlife refuge, a 767-acre preserve that has seven active beaver lodges on its property. “Beavers are clever, industrious, family-oriented animals and necessary to the ecosystem and we now know it is possible to live beside them without conflict.”

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