Trappers nabbed this young beaver near the Tidal Basin on Sunday morning, using willow branches as bait. (James M. Thresher — The Washington Post)

By Eric Lipton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 12, 1999; Page B1

Another of the city's celebrity beavers was taken into federal custody yesterday, then resettled in an undisclosed location where the critter will no longer chew up national treasures.

The beaver, a yearling of undetermined sex, and an adult female seized Friday night were both released shortly after being captured, though federal wildlife officials are keeping their new habitat a secret. They are afraid that the frenzy surrounding their discovery will follow them to their new home, where the beavers are now free to chew as they choose.

"These guys have become celebrities," said Julia Long, a behavioral ecologist with the National Park Service, recounting how reporters from around the country have pressed her for beaver facts. "It is time to respect their privacy and let them have a little peace and quiet."

There were no signs yesterday of additional damage to the Tidal Basin's famous flowering Yoshino cherry trees after four of them, along with five cedar trees, were felled by the chisel-toothed rodents. But the trappers hired to capture the animals are still hunting for a third beaver.

"Hopefully, this will be the last one," said John Adcock Jr., whose family-owned Adcock Trapping Service has been hunting down nuisance squirrels, raccoons and beavers for 40 years. "But if it isn't, we will know pretty soon. These guys aren't shy. Somebody will see them if there is another beaver."

To date, the trapping has progressed without injury, Park Service officials said. The captured beavers had brief checkups before they were released. The Park Service said they were set free in an isolated spot where wildlife experts hope they will reunite.

Officials tried to determine the sex of the second beaver, but the animal did not seem to appreciate the prodding, Long said.

"It just wasn't worth stressing the beaver out," she said.

The first beaver sighting occurred more than a week ago. Park Service officials initially wrapped the cherry trees in plastic or wire to protect them. By Friday, however, they had hired the College Park trapping company for $1,500 to humanely capture the animals.

Crowds were so thick at the Mall and Tidal Basin on Saturday that Adcock's firm didn't try to catch any more beavers. Trappers returned about 3 a.m. yesterday and within four hours had a second beaver and were busy searching for a third.

The two captured beavers have been attracted to suitcase-shaped, wire mesh traps baited with a slab of fresh willow and a dab of castor, a substance secreted by beavers to mark their territory.

Adcock and his father, John Adcock Sr., said they are relieved that they have been able to trap the beavers quickly, given all the attention focused on their effort. The crowd at the Tidal Basin yesterday was lighter, given the rain, but most of the visitors had heard about the cherry-tree-chopping beavers and were keeping an eye on the water.

"They are cute. They should be left alone," said Candice Medbury, 25, of Boston. "They should be allowed to take the trees."

But Joe Rogers, 62, of Alexandria, said if he wanted to see beavers, he could go to the zoo. "They ought to be in the country, where they can cut down all the trees that they want," he said.

Others speculated that the beaver craze is merely a way to distract people from the bombing in Serbia or other controversies that have rocked Washington in recent weeks.

"Maybe Monica and Bill put them out there as a decoy," joked Melissa Breger, 29, of Michigan, who was in Washington for a conference. "It is just a little too convenient."