A protest is planned TODAY (Sunday, January 11) at 2 p.m. at Dowdy Park in Summerville, organized in response to Mayor Rickey Hughes’ recent comments about removing beavers from local waterways.

Organizer Kristy Colbert is urging community members and media to attend, saying she wants to draw attention to what she believes could become an inhumane outcome for the animals. “We will meet at Dowdy Park at 2:00 Sunday afternoon. Please join me to save these animals,” Colbert said in her call to action.

The demonstration follows a Facebook post from Mayor Hughes earlier on Saturday discussing flooding conditions in Summerville. The mayor said that after recent improvements and maintenance, the city did not see major flooding following about three inches of rain. The post originally referenced beaver removal as a next step and was later updated. Colbert says a screenshot she provided shows the mayor confirming beavers will be trapped.

Colbert, a former Chattooga High School teacher, said beavers have been part of the area ecosystem for years and argues debris may be a bigger issue than wildlife. She said she and students previously conducted annual creek cleanups and did not encounter major beaver dams, but noted the waterway has not been maintained in recent years and trash could have built up.

Colbert also raised concerns about what could happen if animals are trapped, saying removal could lead to death or difficult relocation conditions during winter. She says she plans to attend Monday’s Summerville City Council meeting to address the issue directly with city leaders.

The city maintains that the beavers are adding to the flooding concerns of downtown Summerville.