In Memoriam

heidi08 Beaver News, pictures February 9, 2009

by Cheryl Reynolds

heidi08 Environmental February 9, 2009

I couldn’t resist.

So I was chatting to our salmon-interested New Zealand beaver friend, William Hughes-Games, who mentioned that he had two “Wwoofers” who were heading back to the bay area and he was trying to encourage them to visit our beavers. Trying not to be impolite, I discretely assumed that a “Wwoofer” was some kind of down-under slang, like a Pom.

Turns out Wwoofer stands for “Willing Workers On Organic Farms”. Go ahead and google it, there are a few thousand links out there. The idea, started in the 70’s, is that organic farmers around the world invite helpers to combine work and vacation, learn about another part of the world, meet some amazing people, and travel free of living expenses.

One of the Wwoofers was a sports medicine physician, the other an economics professor. William, who operates a small organic farm, worked with them during the day and chatted a little about beavers with them in their spare time. How cool is that? A eco adventure in New Zealand, meeting remarkable people and seeing some of the beautiful world worth saving. Any beaver fan interested in organic farms and inexpensive travel experiences should think about this as an option.

Support your local filmaker!

heidi08 Friends of Martinez Beavers February 7, 2009

Don Bernier, who has been filming the Martinez Beavers for his international documentary on Urban Wildlife, will be featuring one of his short documentaries at the 11th San Francisco Film Festival this weekend. “Shelf Life” will be attended by both Don and his subjects,

11th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival
“A Homegrown Variety” shorts program
Sat., 2/7/09 at 2:45pm
Sun., 2/8/09 at 12:30pm
The Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street @ Valencia, San Francisco CA

If you’re looking for something adventurous, stop by and say Hi!!!

And I must Enter Again the Round

heidi08 Beaver News February 6, 2009

Zion of the water bead

Deep with the first dead lies London’s daughter,
Robed in the long friends,
The grains beyond age, the dark veins of her mother,
Secret by the unmourning water
Of the riding Thames.
After the first death, there is no other.

Dylan Thomas: On the Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London

I wondered yesterday, when I learned of this kits’ death after walking in the door at 8:00 pm, if I would be less affected by this loss. After all I hadn’t seen it, and it hadn’t visibly suffered. I have been guardian of three beaver deaths from our colony, and two from neighboring colonies, so maybe I would place this in the larger context of life, death and survival of the fit and lucky.

Still, I found myself wondering, “which one” of our kits did we lose? Was it the one who comes out first each night and always eats where he can’t be seen? Was it the one who loves blackberries? Was it the one with Mom in the superbowl video? Was it the one who eats bravely under the lamplight so you get a great view? Was it the one that gave a massive closeup shot on the bank this night?

I dreamed last night I was picking through the shallow creek and finding the other kits who had also died.

I guess we can assume the death is still affecting.

UPDATE ON DEATH:

The Kit was found at the primary dam, near the cove where the beavers eat. The restaurant Bertola’s got a report from a customer of the kit and tried to contact us but didn’t know how. Called animal control and was transferred to Lindsay. The woman who took the call happened to be a friend of Cheryl Reynolds and she was contacted. She went out and retrieved the beaver. It weighed in at 29.6lbs at Lindsay, and the new vet there took it up with her to UCDavis for necropsy.

We will make sure that our contact info is at Luigi’s and Bertolas for future reference. You can always email us at mtzbeavers@gmail.com.