We, the residents of Prairie Crossing, are calling on our Homeowners Association (HOA) to immediately include licensed, professional beaver removal as a required component of any plan to address the current beaver situation impacting our community.

Over the past weeks, neighbors have raised serious and valid concerns about the HOA’s proposed response to the beaver issue—particularly plans that involve cutting down healthy, mature trees while leaving the beaver(s) in place. This approach permanently destroys critical tree cover, sound barriers, and wildlife habitat, while failing to resolve the root cause of the problem.

Key concerns shared by residents include:

Tree removal is permanent damage, while beaver activity is ongoing and unresolved
Cutting trees does not stop beavers from relocating to other areas, including private property
Prairie Crossing’s man‑made lakes are connected to a larger watershed, increasing the likelihood of repopulation if beavers are not properly removed
Trees provide essential noise reduction, erosion control, and environmental value that cannot be quickly replaced
Licensed beaver removal has been cited by residents as effective, humane, and common practice in similar situations
According to guidance from environmental and wildlife agencies, live trapping and relocation by licensed wildlife control operators is often necessary to achieve a lasting solution. Addressing symptoms (tree damage) without addressing the cause (the beaver itself) is costly, ineffective, and environmentally irresponsible.

Our Demand
We respectfully but firmly demand that the Prairie Crossing HOA:

Require licensed beaver removal services as part of any mitigation plan
Pause all tree removal until a comprehensive, science‑based solution is approved
Engage qualified wildlife professionals, not ad‑hoc or partial measures
Coordinate with neighboring communities affected by the same watershed to prevent recurrence
Provide transparency and community input before irreversible actions are taken
Prairie Crossing prides itself on being a conservation‑minded community. Removing healthy trees while allowing the underlying wildlife conflict to continue contradicts those values.

We urge the HOA to reconsider its approach and adopt a solution that is effective, humane, fiscally responsible, and aligned with our community’s environmental principles.

Remove the beaver responsibly—not the tree