N.Y. man traps 70-pound beaver

How many surprisingly-heavy dead beavers does the media have to report on before we cease being surprised?

APALACHIN, N.Y., Dec. 27 (UPI) — A New York man says he got a surprise when he retrieved his animal trap from the Susquehanna River to find a record catch — a 70-pound beaver. Bryan Lockman of Apalachin said the monster beaver was in one of several traps he set last week.

“This was only the second day I’d ever gone trapping,” Lockman, 18, told the (Binghamton, N.Y.) Press Bulletin. “When I saw how big it was, wow, it was unbelievable.”

My goodness, such success on only your second day of killing! You must be very proud. Enjoy the champagne. In the meantime I would like to have a conversation with the Department of Natural Resources out your way.

The average adult beaver weighs 35 to 60 pounds, with most coming in at around 40 to 45 pounds, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said.

I’m just curious, but how exactly do you determine the average weight of an adult beaver? I mean, how would you know they were an adult in the first place? You obviously weren’t there when they were born. You probably aren’t testing their reproductive organs. Why wouldn’t you call a 35 lb beaver a yearling or a sub-adult?

Apparently people are very surprised that big animals are big. Who knew?

Oh, and guess whose parents are driving him to Martinez on his way to the Wild and Scenic Film festival where he will be the youngest filmmaker entered? He just had to see the home of the Martinez Beavers! Here’s his recent beta test for ipad and just in case you think this is easy a behind the scenes look at how he made it!

Curiouser and Curioser

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Environmental December 27, 2011

When I worry that our beavers have to contend with poor water quality, garbage trucks, beer bottles, train whistles, restaurant lights, city workers, floating styrofoam cups and the occasional shopping cart, I think about beaver cousins in colder climates where the pond freezes and they have to store enough food underwater to make it through the winter. Early on they reportedly make a concerted effort to “break the ice” by poking their heads through at intervals. Remember beavers breathe air like us and they want to make sure they can get through to the air when they reach their destination. .

11-7-11-beaver-breaking-ice2-img_4324 — Beaver Breaking Ice: Mary Holland

The naturalist behind this lovely photograph is Mary Holland, who resides in Vermont and recently published the irresistible book “Naturally Curious“. She maintains a nature blog of the same name and has an open-hearted wonder for the living world outside that regards with equal delight loon chicks, dragonfly larvae or scat samples.

Mary says she is especially interested in ponds and is a big fan of beavers. She once crashed through a frozen beaver pond wearing snowshoes and that’s got to test any relationship! Since she lives about 38 miles away from Skip Lisle, I can only assume they’ve met. Why they’re not teaming up for a speaking tour touting beaver ponds as the trickle down economy that will make more nature to be “Naturally Curious” about we can only speculate.

You can bet I’ll suggest it.

Watch Mary Holland on PBS. See more from Profile.

Great Minds Thinking Alike

heidi08 Beavers December 26, 2011

In the middle of the state in the middle of January, a group of biologists, hydrologists, ecologists and water use planners will get together to talk about how to shape California policy on beaver management and expand the good that beavers can do for watersheds and salmon. It’s early days, and there’s enormous work to do. It’s not even legal in our state to relocate problem beaver from one area to an empty riverbank that wants them. Despite Martinez’ widely advertised flow device and public success, if you pick up the phone and call fish and game today they will still tell you that flow devices don’t work. Hundreds and thousands of beaver are killed every year in the golden state, and most never make it to the news cycle because no one even cares.

Still, all big things start small. You have to begin somewhere. And the Water Institute of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center has taken it upon themselves to host a meeting of the minds with experts from around the state and beyond. Think of it as a pre-pre-policy meeting.

And think of it as a big deal.

Oh And Merry Christmas from the Martinez Beavers! New Tree Down at Starbucks. It’s the first time we’ve seen them take the rough barked willow!

More Cheer, Please!

heidi08 Beavers December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas from Rick who got inspired by the Grizzly Adams Episode and looked up the original: Hittell’s 1861 text based on his interview of James Capen Adams. And lookee what he found in places where they couldn’t possibly have been!