Have you ever had one of those cryptic relatives that manage to give you the best possible compliment wrapped up in the most devastating insult so you’re never sure exactly how to feel or respond? Well, that’s kind of like my news today. Don’t get me wrong, it’s VERY. GOOD. NEWS. It will have a hugely beneficial impact on beavers for years to come, but the fact that the entire USDA or US Forest Service doesn’t know what a beaver actually looks like leaves me understandably a little deflated.
Stanley Petrowski, President of SURCP and emcee extrordinare of the State of the Beaver Conference, was in DC last week representing South Umpqua, He sends this astonishing update:
I have been attending the USDA Forest Service Planning Rule Revision forum meetings in Wash DC and here in Portland for Region 6 from their inception. During the recent DC forum (March 10) we were presented with, among other things, a cursory view of the Forest Plan emphasis on “Focal” species. Focal species from the Forest Service perspective includes species with a special status that is either an indicator species or a keystone species that are strategically of interest in the project planning process. The actual new revised plan will not be publicly available until around the end of 2011 when the new planning rule will be released. We are currently in a comment period until May 16th.
So what was proposed as a focal species for 2011? I better give you a hint, because you will never, ever guess! (Especially not from THIS photo)
Yes, that photo is our old friend the nutria (castor impostor). Reported by an expert to a roomful of experts and not one stood up and pointed out the error. This is Dr. Chris Iverson, Assisstant Director for Wildlife, Fish & Rare Plants discussing the use of ‘Focal Species” as a strategy for habitat observation and monitoring. Listen to what he has to say about the beaver in particular. Turn the audio wayy up because this was the best sound I could get. I couldn’t help but notice how sheepish he looks suggesting the beaver as a focal species to a roomful of people who’ve no doubt killed their fair share. I am incapable of not wishing that at least part of that shame came from having to use a Nutria picture instead of a beaver.(sigh)
Now, as was pointed out to me several times at the very federally-represented duck stamp event in Sonoma, USDA and USFS have different missions and do different work. And as unlikely as it might be to see beavers introduced as a FOCAL SPECIES for our entire US Forestry service across the country, it is much less likely for them to be embraced by the same USDA that killed 28,000 in 2009 alone. Well, baby steps. First change forestry minds. Then change that photo. Then we’ll go after APHIS.
A SIGN at the entrance of Royal Oaks subdivision on Michigan Avenue Road states, “The Bradley County Commission would like to welcome you to E. coli Bottoms.” Banner photos, DAVID DAVIS
The Royal Oaks Housing Association in Tennessee is a posh set of homes near a golf (of) course. It has beautiful views, desirable margins and one pesky reoccurring problem. (I bet you can guess what.) Beavers! Eating their trees and flooding the area with their dams. So of course the association did what associations do and charged residents to hire trappers last year.
“I’ve been working with the Royal Oaks Homeowners Association to resolve the beaver issue,”Alan Lowe of the Bradley County Commission said Thursday. “My understanding is that the property owners adjacent to the creek have given the homeowners association money to resolve the issue. Late last year, eight beavers were trapped. A new crew of beavers have moved in.”
8 beavers were killed. So far so good. In less than a year more came back. How much can one home owner’s association take? What’s to be done? They met with Dr. Dick Urban from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and were told, the only solution was the final solution.
Destroy the beavers AND the trees!
Since then, Gilbert said she spoke with two trappers who both confirmed everything has to be removed — all the trees and roots.“Small trees are (beavers’) favorite food source and construction material,” she said. “They have a paradise there.”
Take out all the trees and all the roots? Knowing how sarcastic I have a tendency to be, knowing that its nearly April 1st and knowing that the land association is actually named ROYAL OAKS, one might assume I was making this up. Sadly, no. This is really what the ‘experts’ recommended. I have to ask myself, why stop with the trees? Why not remove the creek entirely? Maybe the oxygen? Pour concrete over the entire area? You never know when living creatures might suddenly turn up. County Attorney Byrd has this to say about whether the conundrum merits county interference:
He said Americans believe in limited government intrusion into their lives and that’s what exists and the county cannot get involved until it reaches the right of way, which varies along county roads. He said if even the water reaches the right of way after a rain and then recedes, that is still not enough for the county to intercede. He said if it becomes a jurisdictional wetlands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would become involved and the site might have to be mitigated in another location. Byrd said there is no indication bird strikes by aircraft would result at the neighboring airport because of an increasing population of waterfowl.
GROWING WETLANDS along Michigan Avenue Road are a growing source of contention between a colony of beavers, some residents of Royal Oaks subdivision and Bradley County. Resident Barbara Gilbert said the only thing residents know to do now is spray for mosquitoes. Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner - Beavers are back High waters hit Royal Oaks again
You’d better be careful, Royal Oaks, Royal Stumps, Royal Desert. That’s some beautiful wetlands. if you’re not careful you’ll end up on the flight path and then what will you do? I will write a letter to Dr. Urban Wildlife and Alan Lowe-lying wetlands, explaining how beavers don’t carry e coli or cause disease, pointing out how pond height can be inexpensively controlled with flow devices and that the wetlands will attract invaluable wildlife to the properties, augmenting fish and bird populations, but what’s the point? I’m afraid the only advice they’re likely to follow is to fill in the whole area over with concrete. Maybe someone’s grandson needs a basketball court?
Contact us if you suddenly get interested in real solutions.
It rained and it pouredFor forty daysie, daysiesIt rained and it pouredFor forty daysie, daysiesAlmost drove those animals crazy, crazies,Children of the Lord
Yesterday’s incredible rain nearly erased all sign of the beavers in Alhambra Creek. All the dams were washed away, the filter to Skips flow device was seen floating down stream, and by evening the lodge was merely a hole where beavers used to live. City officials stood cheerfully on the bridge and watched the excellent work their sheetpile did at protecting a single property owner, and news media frantically telephoned to ask if the beavers had washed out to sea. A nice article from Lisa White at the Contra Costa Times here. Good summary from the Bay City News Group, too.
What wasn’t erased, though, was the place the beavers maintain in the hearts of the community. Supporters flocked to the creekside in droves, ambling up and down the banks with cameras. Robert Rust filmed an adult beaver in the afternoon after the lodge was flooded, and looking at the footage it is clear this was Dad. Bob saw at least two other kits hunkered near the black berry bushes, which was enormously comforting for supporters. Whatever happens the family is together, and whether they decide to start over or shake the dust from this complicated little town, we cannot know.
Where the lodge used to be
There are more bank holes they could have hunkered for the day. Or dad could easily dig a new one. The habitat is hardly hospitable, but I can’t imagine the Carquinez strait looks any better. Worth A Dam asks for your help keeping watch. Look around Grangers and near the creek for beaver sign – chewing, footprints, etc. We’ll do what we can to figure out what happens. What we know for sure is that our beavers didn’t ‘wash away’. Bob’s footage of Dad’s strong swimming proves that. He even filmed a muskrat swimming against the current so our kits will have no problem in that department. They might decide to leave, but it won’t be because they were whooshed out to sea.
What we don’t know is what will happen next.
(But if by some chance we happen to have beavers when this is finished, they are the best dam beavers in the world and I personally will never doubt them again.)
Words of wisdom:
Gary Bogue: (Animal columnist)
REALLY sorry about the loss of the dam … but very happy the beavers appear to be OK. They’ll rebuild, I’m sure. Please keep me posted. In fact, a short e-mail outlining what happened that I could run in my column so my readers know what happened would be good … that way we could let them know and give your organization a subtle plug in the process. /Gary
Mike Callahan: (Beaver solutions)
As you know by now, beavers are very resourceful and determined. They will rebuild.
Jeff Alvarez (The Wildlife project)
The strength of an animal to survive and persist is second to nothing I know. I don’t believe that these beavers have a sense of loss or fear of stochastic events in the same way that we do. Spending the night in the water or on the bank doesn’t have the same risk as if these beavers were exposed to significant predators. My seemingly emotionless (yet not so at all) guess is that they will see the debris that has washed down the stream as a great source of materials from which to rebuild. Until then, I suspect that they might move around to various secondary bank holes.
Joe Cannon: The Lands Council Beaver Project
oh noooooo! so sorry to hear that! We all know they relentlessly return to places they like, so I’m betting they’ll start setting up shop in their old haunt before we know it. I wish I could send an aspen bouquet to encourage them back! I’ll stay tuned to the site, and let me know if I can support in any way.
Leonard & Lois Houston: Beaver Advocacy Committee South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership
pretty scary when they are flooded the fact they remain is very encouraging sometimes they disappear for days during runoff events but seem to always return, beavers usually continue to use the same site until food supplies are exhausted or dams fill with sediment don’t seem to be the case here so unlikely they will move on.
Craig Cannon: (TV News Stringer East San Francisco Bay Area)
How quick we forget about our furry little treasures just down the road. I videotaped for broadcast, the town and creek flooding. Having lived in the Sierra, I had no doubt the Beavers would come through it. It was just heartwarming seeing the little kids, families, and friends of the beavers, standing in the rain at the creek, with worry, and concern, all rooting for the beavers. I even interviewed Steve Weir, who was anxiously watching the creek, in the area of the former dam. Even in a hardened job like mine, there is something about those beavers that amazes me, and my son. I look forward to the re-build, if we are so blessed. I look at this as a cleansing of the creek. All the man made impurities gone now, the beavers have a fresh place to re-build and prosper. I wish them all the best.
Joanna Chaves:(supporter)
I love the Martinez Beavers and I have fond memories of the stories my mother told me of how the beaver came to be. I love the beaver and since I was a child that was what friends would call me. Of course, I am older now and just appreciate this kindly and beautiful creature. I am so happy there is this organization to make sure the Martinez beavers are looked after. Thanks, Joanna Chavez
