Cheryl called me yesterday with an APB that the wildlife rescue program “Sea Rescue” was profiling the adoption of a beaver kit. The story is that sea world learned of a kit that survived a bear attack in Canada and flew up to get him. They didn’t clarify exactly why it was worth flying thousands of miles to raise an orphaned kit when they could just pluck one of the many that are routinely killed in their back yard, but okay. They also said that because it was hand reared by a human it could never be in the wild, which I bet Audrey Tournay would find very interesting.
The kit’s name is “PEANUT”, which is kind of adorable.
I of course snapped on the TV in time to hear that the baby beaver “had to be taught to swim, or they would drown!” Which is bunk because beavers pretty much swim from birth (and if you were shaped like a peanut you probably would too) but need to be taught to DIVE or they can’t get in or out of the lodge. Still the footage is adorable so you better keep an eye out if you’re able. .
City officials are making plans to destroy the beaver dams that have been built across the Oligarchy Ditch, such as this one near North Shore and Breakwater drives. (Matthew Jonas/Times-Call) ( Matthew Jonas )
Remember the “best-ditch ever?” and the story of the oddly titled “oligarchy ditch?”. Well they’ve decided to take some action with the beavers living there, and maybe because they’re 45 minutes from Sherri Tippie or maybe because of the Estes park bruhaha, or maybe even because I wrote them when the article appeared last year, the news ain’t all bad.
LONGMONT –– These furry vandals didn’t leave any fingerprints behind, but their teeth marks are everywhere.
Beavers have wreaked havoc along the Oligarchy Ditch near McIntosh Lake, bringing down trees and using them to build sizable dams across the ditch, prompting city officials to put together a plan to get the water flowing again.
Dan Wolford, the city’s land program manager, said Friday he was putting the finishing touches on a communication his department will be sending to City Council in the next day or two outlining what those plans are, and he expects crews to begin dismantling the dams either next week or the week after.
“We’re developing a citywide standard operating procedure plan,” Wolford said.
I’d like to pause a moment and say that sometimes in life you are giveninformation that includes both good news and bad news, and depending on what kind of day you’ve had or how tight your shoes are or or what sort of life curve you’re grading on, you could feel either hopeful or grim about it. Sometimes the opposing forces could be of such equal weight that they cancel each other out so you end up feeling nothing much at all. I’m not sure what I feel when I read this story. Here’s an example:
After the dams are removed, city forestry crews will either wrap the trees or use another method to dissuade the beavers from their chewing habit, Wolford said.
“Another technique that’s out there is painting it with some gritty sand, some water-based gritty sand, because they don’t like the taste,” he said.
Okay then.
I have just two corrections for Longmont, and then I’ll wish them god’s speed.
Stop using staff hours to rip out dams. Install a flow device instead.
Beavers dislike the TEXTURE – not taste. Last time I checked beavers don’t chop down trees with their tongues.
When I shot the footage to the right of Jr approaching mom and whining so plaintively and mom ignoring him, I was feeling so bad about mom not paying attention that I wondered about calling BPS (beaver protective services). Instead, I sent it to Bob Arnebeck (still furrowed with worry) because he has been watching beavers in New York since forever and has seen all possible beaver interactions.
Amazingly enough, he wrote back:
Now that’s a nice beaver Mom. Often they are pretty rough with a mewing kit. Thanks for sending the clip. Bob
Which just goes to show you that everything is relative, and you should always ask an expert before you panic! Here’s some footage he shot of mom not paying attention to a mewing kit.
Our ‘boots on the ground’ spies liasions attended Tom Purdy’s lecture on Urban Beavers in London Canada last night. It had more than 370 attendees and folks were turned away! Feedback from one lucky attendee follows:
I thoroughly enjoyed last nights talk at the library. Tom seems to know his stuff and I felt his view of beavers and urban beaver issues were spot on. He even mentioned the Stanton beaver story, but he was careful not to get into the politics of it. Good stuff. 80% of his presentation was about the life of a beaver, things we all know. At the end he mentioned solutions, again, all the ones we agree on and promote. He would be a great guy on our side if we ever needed that extra help to convince the naysayers!
Margaret Gelinas Dog Rescue Volunteer co-owner of the Market Pet Shop Great Canadian EcoFest Director www.greatcanadianecofest.ca
Great Canadian Ecofest? Ecofest with a beaver on the logo? Be still my heart! Can we possibly chat about how beavers will be ‘featured’ in this fest? Wowowow! New friends for beavers! Here’s some more good news. Jon saw our newest family member (last summers kit) going into the old lodge this morning in the wee hours. He’s not a yearling yet, but he definitely isn’t a baby anymore….beaver-tween? And if you miss seeing beavers yourself, you will enjoy photographer Ann Cameron Siegal’s amazing beaver slideshow here.
(And doesn’t this photo look like ‘Dad’?) Cick for a fantastic beaver slideshow - Ann Cameron Siegal
The kit’s name is “PEANUT”, which is kind of adorable.
