Forest City - Buckley Beaverling lodged a complaint today, alleging that a certain squirrel had been stealing limbs and twigs from his part of the riverbank.
"I was really confused because the building materials I need for repairing my home were disappearing. I finally saw this squirrel sneak up, grab a mouthful, and run up a tree. Those sticks are on MY property, and therefore, they belong to me. Besides, some of them were from a tree I felled about a week ago. The squirrel had to trespass on private property to get the sticks, anyway. Why didn't she just ask?"
It seems Mr. Beaverling wasn't the only individual in need of construction materials. When contacted about the complaint of the theft, Mrs. Chestnut pointed out that she needed nesting materials like everyone else.
"I have the right to gather what I need from the forest the same as anybody. she said. "My babies need a home, too. He doesn't own anything that just happens to fall on his property. What if one of my nuts fell? Would that mean it was now his? If he wanted to keep those sticks for himself, why didn't he just tell me?"
Buckley Beaverling was heard to say that he had seriously considered felling the tree Mrs. Chestnut was building her nest in. After he thought about it, he decided to make a formal complaint to avoid more trouble.
A hearing will be held soon regarding the ownership of the sticks.
Q: Do the sticks really belong to Buckley Beaverling, or anyone that happens to need them?
The Facts
1. The sticks and twigs were found on Buckley Beaverling's property.
2. Some were from trees he felled.
3. Others naturally fell from nearby trees Buckley does not own.
4. Buckley did not make it clear that he wanted the sticks for himself.
5. Mrs. Chestnut needs to build a nest for her babies.
6. Buckley needs to repair his home.
7. There are many other places that Mrs. Chestnut can gather the sticks from, though many of them are farther away than Buckley's part of the riverbank.
Some Opinions
Mrs. Chestnut thinks that just because something is on someone's property, it doesn't nessesarily mean that someone owns it. But, if Buckley had told her that he wanted the sticks for himself, she would have left them alone.
Buckley thinks that since the sticks were on his property, he owns them. He thinks Mrs. Chestnut stole his property and tresspassed on his property.
The Choices
a) Buckley Beaverling owns the sticks. Mrs. Chestnut is guilty of stealing and tresspassing.
b) Buckley Beaverling owns only the sticks that are from the tree he felled.
c) The sticks do not belong to anyone inparticular, but anyone who wants them.
Tell us who you think owns the sticks and twigs, and why. Remember to include your first name, state/providence, and country. The results will be tallied and anonymously posted.
