I am writing to express my appreciation for your story (BDN, Feb. 10-11) calling attention to the plight of the beavers on Kenduskeag Avenue and the human population who enjoys their presence and would defend the rights of the beavers to coexist alongside them.

I am not a resident of Bangor but feel the human population of this planet, as the supposedly most intelligent species, needs to expend more effort toward preserving the lives and rights of those species which cannot defend themselves from our encroachment upon their lands.

Hunting, fishing and trapping are sacred cows in Maine, and to utter any words of warning regarding our continuing decimation of wildlife is taboo. I therefore applaud Dr. Geoffrey Gratwick and his neighbors for their efforts, and I congratulate Deidre Fleming for bringing their story to the rest of us.

Valerie Andrews

Exeter