Beaver, deer damages multiply: The creatures of the wild are vital when it comes to keeping the food chain intact, but in other respects, they can cause a lot of trouble.

Beavers and deer are doing a lot of damage this year. Roads, farms, people and cars have become the victims of these furry creatures.

The replacement of fur products with other materials over the past several decades has left beavers swarming in the wetlands, constructing dams and making a mess of farms and roads.

In early May, heavy rains washed out a series of beaver dams in Litchfield, costing the municipality about $700 in damages to Bank Road.

The Quebec Ministry of Transportation has cleaned up deer at 15 accident sites on Pontiac highways in the last two months, said Pierre Normandeau, of the Ministry of Transportation’s Campbell’s Bay office.

Lightning bolts don’t faze fishermen at Waltham Bass tourney: Thunder and lightning created an additional challenge for the anglers entered in the 11th annual Waltham Fire Department Ottawa River Bass Tournament. 

Ted Farrell and his partner stuck it out through the storm along with the rest of the boats, but played it safe when the lightning got too close for comfort.

“I quit casting because it was coming too close,” Farrell said.

The storm could not deter the crowd of about 800 people who came to the river’s edge over the weekend.

Nature gave the fishermen a break on Sunday by sending out the sun to replace the dark clouds overhead.

It was on Sunday Jeff Barber caught a 6.04 pound fish, the largest of the day.

The biggest fish of the day winners for Saturday and Sunday were awarded $500 each.