Cherry trees fall prey to beavers

Washington - Beaver mania is sweeping across Washington as a pair of errant furry criminals munch their way through the capital…

Washington - Beaver mania is sweeping across Washington as a pair of errant furry criminals munch their way through the capital's prized flowering cherry trees.

Initially park officials said a lone male beaver was responsible for felling some of the cherry trees that form a magnificent canopy of dusty pink blooms around the Tidal Basin, attracting thousands of tourists daily.

That culprit has now been spotted with an accomplice, said a National Park Service spokesman yesterday, adding that more could be on the loose.