The works of the beaver have ever intensely interested the human mind. Beaver works may do for children what schools, sermons, companions, and even home sometimes fail to do, develop the power to think. No boy or girl can become intimately acquainted with the ways and works of these primitive folk without having the eyes of observation opened, and acquiring a permanent interest in the wide world in which we live.
Enos Mills: In Beaver World
In honor of the holiday I allowed myself to finish In Beaver World yesterday and I’m still hearing fireworks. I think the very best celebration I can think of for the holiday is to pass it forward. Imagine an inspiring Sousa march in the background, or better yet – I’ll give you one.
How’s that for a dynamite opening paragraph? He describes how deep pools made by the beavers allow trout to survive the frozen winter, how factories depend on the running water to operate and how beavers manage and create rich soil over the years that go on to feed the farms of america.
The truly amazing thing is that this was written almost 100 years ago, and I spent the last four years learning about it from people who were doing the research to prove that its really true. Words like biodiversity and hyporheic exchange hadn’t been invented yet, but Enos Mills could see it right before his eyes.
If you have any time left over after fireworks, watermelon and the balloon toss, go give yourself a real American treat and read the whole chapter. God Bless Castor Americanus!
On August 25th, 1835 the New York Sun announced the discovery that the most famous astronomer of the day had developed a telescope so powerful that he could see life upon the moon.Knowing this stunning revelation would be questioned, the editor announced in his own column to his readers that the front page moonstory was based on a scientific report from Scotland. On the third day they outlined the unusual inhabitants which included winged humans, lunar bison and the biped fire-wielding beaver.
However, the highlight of this extract was the discovery of the biped beaver. This was the first sign of intelligent, though primitive, life on the moon. These extraordinary beavers, who walked on two feet and bore their young in their arms, lived in huts “constructed better and higher than those of many tribes of human savages.” Signs of smoke above the huts of the beavers indicated that these advanced animals had mastered the use of fire.
For the following week, riveting stories were unfolded that were reprinted in newspapers around the country. The gullible American populace hung on every word waiting to hear more about this obviously credible discovery. That life on the moon was possible was obvious to every immigrant and pioneer that had made his way to the new world. That the wonders of nature would unfold submissively to the inventions of science was unavoidable.
The lunar narrative concluded on Monday, August 31. In the final extract the astronomers discovered a superior order of Vespertilio-homo living in close proximity to the mysterious sapphire temple. These new creatures “were of a larger stature than the former specimens, less dark in color, and in every respect an improved variety of the race.”
While observing these creatures, who spent their time collecting fruit, flying, bathing, and conversing, the astronomers realized that there reigned a “universal state of amity among all classes of lunar creatures.” They could not remember having observed any “carnivorous or ferocious species.” (Apparently they had forgotten watching birds catching fish earlier in the narrative.)
With this thought in mind, Herschel and his companions temporarily ended their observations. However, when they returned to the telescope the next day they discovered they had accidentally left its lens in a position where it had caught the sun’s rays and burned down a wall of the observatory. A week later, after having completed the repairs, the moon was no longer visible.
Subscriptions to the Sun dramatically increased, although within a few weeks most had decided the discovery was a hoax. The paper never printed a retraction, and for a long time afterwards the term “Moon hoaxy” was synonymous with fraud. As for bipedal beaver who carry their young in their arms, I can only say this
I’ll let you know about their use of fire.
This article out of Idaho comes pretty darn close to touting beaver benefits while still ruefully bemoaning their pernicious qualities. Apparently the entire USFS of Idaho hasn’t yet learned that a flow device can prevent flooding or wrapping and sand painting can protect trees. Never mind. They’ll get there. They apparently got the memo that the beaver is a keystone species, and that’s definitely a start.
Beavers are a keystone species, meaning that other species rely on them for habitat. Garwood said that when beavers build dams and create ponds, they create habitat for other species. “Often these ponds will raise the water table,” Garwood said, creating wetlands that provide living space and food sources for hummingbirds, yellow warblers and mallards.
Nice work. I’m going to guess your borders with Washington and Oregon have been seeping in beaver intelligence. Keep it up. This piece by Katherine Wutz is an excellent beaver article. I’d like there to be a discussion of tools home owners can use to manage conflicts, but I’m thrilled this is an introductory course on why they should bother. Go read the whole thing and enjoy.
The body gripping traps are traps designed to kill the trapped animal quickly. They are frequently called “Conibear” traps after Canadian Frank Conibear who first constructed this type of trap in 1957. This type of trap was considered by trappers one of the greatest innovations in traps in the 20th century. Animals were quickly killed and therefore no animal could escape once caught. Conibear traps are mostly used to trap muskrats or beaver.
Every six weeks it seems like there’s an article in some paper discussing the fact that beavers need killing but not to worry because ‘the conibear traps they use kill instantly and are very humane’. I’ve even read of trappers offering reassurance about their humanity by saying that there were never any ‘chew marks’ on the trap, meaning the animal was killed before he could struggle. Of course, I’ve seen those bunny hugger videos about how cruel and actually UNinstant these traps are, especially for an animal that can hold its breath for 15 minutes, but I’ve been doing this long enough to realize that even though they’re shocking to me, they’d quickly be written off as unimportant PETA whimpers and ignored.
This story might just change all that.
Seems Tuesday morning David & Chrissy heard what sounded like a cat whining in distress in the backyard.
Upon investigation, the couple found a small, black cat caught in a trap on a neighboring property. The trap was attached to the fence by a hook and the cat lay ensnared between the trap’s clamps. Reaching over the fence, Atlee and Espley managed to grab the trap and then rushed to contact another area resident they thought the cat may have belonged to. The couple, with the assistance of the resident, who was not the cat’s owner, was able to release the cat, rushing the animal to Happy Cat Haven seeking medical assistance. The trap was confirmed by Miller to be a Conibear, often used to hunt small animals such as mink and beaver.
Did you get that? Not only was the cat howling for a good long while, he also lasted long enough for two neighbors to be contacted and then survived a trip to the vet. And this was after being caught in the same trap that is supposed to kill beavers instantly and humanely! I don’t know when the last time you compared our stocky little beavers to a sleek light-boned cat, but I have to imagine its easier to crush a cat than it is to crush a beaver.The cat received medical attention and painkillers and was still surviving well at the end of the article. Maybe the whole thing is not that instant after all.
I guess it’s a good idea that beavers are trapped underwater, so nobody ever hears them howl.
