How to boo a beaver

Authorities in Riga are to hold a contest to find a way to scare beavers away from the city’s canal. The rodents have damaged several trees and authorities fear they may begin munching on the canal’s wooden structures.

At first, authorities wanted to shoot the beavers. But the Mayor of Riga, Nil Ushakov, stood up for the voracious rodents. That is when the idea of the contest appeared.

The local newspaper, Chas, has come up with a motto for the contest: we need to frighten the beavers, but just a little bit.

The person who finds the most efficient and humane way to deal with the unwelcome animals might win a prize ranging from 170 to 520 dollars. The money award, however, has yet to be approved by the local legislative body.