Probably not. As for:
" "Hoots," reports Roll Call's Mary Ann Akers, "and hollers followed." Probably because the crowd of hunters, hunter-lovers, and those who make their living kissing up to hunter-loving lawmakers understood that "beaver" is a slang term for vagina -- although, who knows, maybe they were super-excited about the flat-tailed, dam-building rodents."

I had no idea the beaver was used only hunters and hunter-lover. But anyhow as for the question, probably a little of both. But also the thought that PETA would HATE, HATE it, probably added a significant fraction to the humor of it.