Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls

For those of you who have not seen this:

This one is a genuine hoot. It was an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan.
Wait till you read this guy's response.......but read the letter before you get to the response........
Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339
SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2002.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely, David L. Price

District Representative Land and Water Management Division
******************* This is the actual response sent back........
Dear Mr. Price,
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County.
Your certified letter dated 12/17/01 has been handed to me to respond to.
First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal Landowner and/or Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.
While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris."
I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.
My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.
I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect.
In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.
In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams.).
So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!)
Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
Sincerely,
Stephen L.Tvedten

--- Randal Bublitz

--- rjbublitz@earthlink.net

we have NOT inherited the Earth from our fathers,

we are Borrowing it from our Children

- ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 21:34:58 -0500 From: "John McKee" Subject: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01C2666D.BA2A54C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Would one of you kind folks tell me the best way { doesn't have to be = fast, just good } to take a recently severed animal head down to a = clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it was discussed some time = back but I can't find it in any of my files. I live in the = Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the desert = if that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. John The Stitchin' Scotsman 100% Handsewn Elkhide garments and moccasins Manu Forti www.stitchinscotsman.com - ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01C2666D.BA2A54C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Would one of you kind folks tell = me the best=20 way { doesn't have to be fast, just good } to take a recently severed = animal=20 head down to a clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it was = discussed some=20 time back but I can't find it in any of my files. I live in the = Midwest....often=20 surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the desert if that makes = a=20 difference. Thanks for any ideas. John

The Stitchin' Scotsman
100% = Handsewn=20 Elkhide garments
and moccasins
Manu Forti
www.stitchinscotsman.com

- ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01C2666D.BA2A54C0-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 22:41:42 -0400 From: "Tom Roberts" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C26677.0D057CC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable John, I also remember the discussion but did not capture it. I believe the = simplest, most natural (but not necessarily fastest) method would be to bury the skull = and let the insects and/or bacteria in the ground do the work. Could be covered = with large rocks to thwart diggers. Tom ----- Original Message -----=20 From: John McKee=20 To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com=20 Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 10:34 PM Subject: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls Would one of you kind folks tell me the best way { doesn't have to be = fast, just good } to take a recently severed animal head down to a = clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it was discussed some time = back but I can't find it in any of my files. I live in the = Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the desert = if that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. John The Stitchin' Scotsman 100% Handsewn Elkhide garments and moccasins Manu Forti www.stitchinscotsman.com - ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C26677.0D057CC0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

John,

I also remember the discussion but did = not capture=20 it. I believe the simplest, most

natural (but not necessarily fastest) = method would=20 be to bury the skull and let the

insects and/or bacteria in the ground = do the=20 work. Could be covered with large rocks

to thwart diggers.

Tom

----- Original Message -----
From:=20 John=20 McKee
To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com= =20

Sent: Friday, September 27, = 2002 10:34=20 PM

Subject: MtMan-List: bleaching=20 skulls

Would one of you kind folks tell = me the=20 best way { doesn't have to be fast, just good } to take a recently = severed=20 animal head down to a clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it = was=20 discussed some time back but I can't find it in any of my files. I = live in the=20 Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the = desert if=20 that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. = John

The Stitchin' Scotsman
100% = Handsewn=20 Elkhide garments
and moccasins
Manu Forti
www.stitchinscotsman.com

- ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C26677.0D057CC0-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 21:50:34 -0500 From: "John McKee" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0015_01C2666F.E847AE50 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Thanks, Tom, but since Old Man Winter is just around the corner, won't = burying the head in ground that will freeze delay the process until = Spring? Just wondering. John ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Tom Roberts=20 To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com=20 Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 9:41 PM Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls John, I also remember the discussion but did not capture it. I believe the = simplest, most natural (but not necessarily fastest) method would be to bury the = skull and let the insects and/or bacteria in the ground do the work. Could be covered = with large rocks to thwart diggers. Tom ----- Original Message -----=20 From: John McKee=20 To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com=20 Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 10:34 PM Subject: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls Would one of you kind folks tell me the best way { doesn't have to = be fast, just good } to take a recently severed animal head down to a = clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it was discussed some time = back but I can't find it in any of my files. I live in the = Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the desert = if that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. John The Stitchin' Scotsman 100% Handsewn Elkhide garments and moccasins Manu Forti www.stitchinscotsman.com - ------=_NextPart_000_0015_01C2666F.E847AE50 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Thanks, Tom, but since Old Man = Winter is=20 just around the corner, won't burying the head in ground that will = freeze delay=20 the process until Spring? Just wondering. John

----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Tom=20 Roberts
To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com= =20

Sent: Friday, September 27, = 2002 9:41=20 PM

Subject: Re: MtMan-List: = bleaching=20 skulls

John,

I also remember the discussion but = did not=20 capture it. I believe the simplest, most

natural (but not necessarily fastest) = method=20 would be to bury the skull and let the

insects and/or bacteria in the ground = do the=20 work. Could be covered with large rocks

to thwart diggers.

Tom

----- Original Message -----
From:=20 John McKee
To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com= =20

Sent: Friday, September 27, = 2002 10:34=20 PM

Subject: MtMan-List: = bleaching=20 skulls

Would one of you kind folks = tell me the=20 best way { doesn't have to be fast, just good } to take a recently = severed=20 animal head down to a clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it = was=20 discussed some time back but I can't find it in any of my files. I = live in=20 the Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not = the=20 desert if that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. = John

The Stitchin' Scotsman
100% = Handsewn=20 Elkhide garments
and moccasins
Manu Forti
www.stitchinscotsman.com

- ------=_NextPart_000_0015_01C2666F.E847AE50-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 22:06:47 -0500 From: bmitzit Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls - --============_-1178940086==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Dermestid Beetles: best bone cleaners on the planet http://www.calacademy.org/science_now/archive/wild_lives/dermestid.html where to get 'em: http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html - --artful dodger >Thanks, Tom, but since Old Man Winter is just around the corner, >won't burying the head in ground that will freeze delay the process >until Spring? Just wondering. John > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Tom Roberts >To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 9:41 PM >Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls > >John, > >I also remember the discussion but did not capture it. I believe >the simplest, most >natural (but not necessarily fastest) method would be to bury the >skull and let the >insects and/or bacteria in the ground do the work. Could be covered >with large rocks >to thwart diggers. > >Tom > >----- Original Message ----- >From: John McKee >To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 10:34 PM >Subject: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls > >Would one of you kind folks tell me the best way { doesn't have to >be fast, just good } to take a recently severed animal head down to >a clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it was discussed some >time back but I can't find it in any of my files. I live in the >Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the >desert if that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. John > > > > > > > > > >The Stitchin' Scotsman >100% Handsewn Elkhide garments >and moccasins >Manu Forti >www.stitchinscotsman.com > - --============_-1178940086==_ma============ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls

Dermestid Beetles: best bone cleaners on the planet

http://www.calacademy.org/science_now/archive/wild_lives/dermestid.html

where to get 'em:

http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html

--artful dodger

Thanks, Tom, but since Old Man Winter is just around the corner, won't burying the head in ground that will freeze delay the process until Spring? Just wondering. John

----- Original Message -----

From: Tom Roberts

To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 9:41 PM

Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls

John,

I also remember the discussion but did not capture it. I believe the simplest, most

natural (but not necessarily fastest) method would be to bury the skull and let the

insects and/or bacteria in the ground do the work. Could be covered with large rocks

to thwart diggers.

Tom

----- Original Message -----

From: John McKee

To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 10:34 PM

Subject: MtMan-List: bleaching skulls

Would one of you kind folks tell me the best way { doesn't have to be fast, just good } to take a recently severed animal head down to a clean, white skull? I seem to remember that it was discussed some time back but I can't find it in any of my files. I live in the Midwest....often surrounded by coyotes it seems.... and not the desert if that makes a difference. Thanks for any ideas. John

The Stitchin' Scotsman
100% Handsewn Elkhide garments

and moccasins

Manu Forti

www.stitchinscotsman.com

- --============_-1178940086==_ma============-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ End of hist_text-digest V1 #1090 ******************************** - To unsubscribe to hist_text-digest, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe hist_text-digest" in the body of the message.