Rewilding with beavers

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental October 6, 2013

Author J.B. MacKinnon argues for ‘rewilding:’ helping nature revive

J.B. MacKinnon’s new book, The Once And Future World, makes the case for rewilding – creating conditions that will support wildlife so animals and plants can thrive there again.

Now we talked about J.B. Mackinnon’s book back when I was just intrigued – but I had no idea it would be such a readable, riveting, treatise that was such an obvious secret gift to the beaver advocate. You should pick up your copy right away and get ready to look at every patch of land around you, and ever creature that lives there, or might live there, differently.

J.B. MacKinnon wants to get wild from The Tyee on Vimeo.

One of the passages I was most gripped by described our uniquely human response to extinction. We first insist that it will never happen, that it couldn’t happen, and that it hasn’t happened. (In fact up into the 1800’s it was a religious affront to even imagine that man could undo God’s handiwork.) Extinction wasn’t possible. And then once it was obvious we moved almost seamlessly into believing the animal in question NEVER EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Just like beavers in the Sierras, or in coastal rivers, or Martinez for example.

The psychology of our understanding of the natural world has never made as much sense to me as it does after reading his book. I am incapable at looking at the urgency of the November 7, 2007 meeting as anything other than a community’sdesperate need to Rewild itself. Martinez should be a beacon on a hill for other cities to emulate, and our living, changing beaver ponds are a testament to renewal.

What can individuals in cities do to contribute to rewilding?

Rewilding really can be as straightforward as putting up a birdhouse. There are in all cities, and especially a place like Vancouver, organizations dedicated to ecological restoration. Also take some time to learn the history of nature and the historical ecology of this area because, when people do that, they almost always seem to find it absolutely fascinating to learn, for example, that there may have been California Condors flying over Burrard Inlet 250 years ago when the nearest California Condors are a thousand kilometres away in California today. The other thing individuals can do is actively reconnect with nature.

Or save some local beavers, for instance.

Speaking of saving beavers, Worth A Dam made a good impression at the 22 anniversary of Wild Birds Unlimited in Pleasant Hill. The awesome and retired Gary Bogue was there with his increasingly awesome replacement Joan Morris. There were displays from Mt. Diablo Audubon and Mike Marchiano the naturalist as well as a bald eagle from Native birds and those crazy beaver supporters from Martinez. Highlights of the day were conversations with very smart children who taught me what they knew about beavers. One scholarly boy of about 7 earnestly explained that he has seen in a nature program that beaver only eat the cambium layer underneath the bark. I was so impressed we high-fived loudly.

Another wistful little girl named Anna said that she had read in a book that beavers slap their tails when something is dangerous so that people will “come and help“.

To which I could only reply, “That’s right Anna, and sometimes people do.”

Watershed Cousins

heidi08 Educational, Environmental, Friends of Martinez Beavers October 5, 2013

Nice article on the return of river otters in Thursday’s Treehugger report with some awesome photos you will want to see for yourself. Here’s a taste to whet your appetite.

In Photos: River otters making a come back in California’s Bay Area

Last year and earlier in January we reported on a river otter in San Francisco that made headlines. Sutro Sam was the first otter spotted in the city in perhaps more than 50 years. But this temporary resident of the Sutro Baths ruins is just one member of the recovering river otter populations in the bay area. And he, along with his fellow otters, are a sign not only that the local efforts put into habitat restoration are paying off, but that focusing on coexisting with wildlife in general can bring back native species to an area.

I love otters and their recovery. Still, I don’t know about you, but when I think about the fatted-calf reception these cheer-inducing animals get in comparison to beavers I’m a little jealous. Otters are like your darling cousin who always monopolizes all the attention and gets away with things by flashing her big blue eyes. Well – brown. Never mind that beavers are steadfastly building and maintaining the dams that improve those freshwater fish to begin with. Basically making a buffet table for these starlets to eat and swim.

And speaking of the goodies at the buffet table, Tom Reynolds of Sonoma Audubon just posted this video on facebook. It’s a bittern munching on a crayfish. And considering how secretive these birds are it’s a fairly amazing glimpse at nature enjoying her bounty. Unfortunately I just realized that the privacy rules still apply so if you’re not “friends” with Tom you can’t see this. My advice to you is MAKE FRIENDS!

Baby book 2013

heidi08 Beavers October 4, 2013

Finally, a family album for the year. Three kits and their photographers. Don’t miss the kit-tail slap at the end. It’s death-defying. Come visit us at the Pleasant Hill Wildbirds Unlimited tomorrow for their wildlife day, say hi, buy your fall seed and we can talk beavers.

Beavers block medical supplies?

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere October 3, 2013

Montreal is getting ready for its semi-annual “Let’s kill beavers” party. Now the animals are being accursed of destroying the internet and blocking medical supplies. Just read.

Beaver dam collapse wreaks havoc on Quebec’s north shore

Hospital surgeries were cancelled, phone service was knocked out and technicians were sent scrambling on Quebec’s north shore after a beaver dam collapsed, chopping a fibre-optic cable.

The Internet was also cut off when the large rodent-made structure gave way on Monday evening along a highway 750 km northeast of Montreal.

The cable was severed at a point where it crosses a river.The local health network was hit hard. Some labs at the hospital in Sept-Iles, Que., were shut down and appointments were cancelled as a precautionary measure to avoid possible errors during manual data entry.

I’m sorry. How exactly does a washed out beaver dam sever a cable? And why do you suppose a beaver dam would rupture in the beginning of fall with no rain to speak of? Hmm, maybe that dam was “abandoned” by people who decided to trap these beavers a month ago? At any rate your list of injured parties is impressive. How about orphans? Didn’t it keep some orphans from getting their medicine or something?

The piercing treatise continues with a round-up of beaver stories from last year.

BEAVER: FRIEND OR FOE?

Canadians have had a love-hate relationship with our national critter, as evidenced in these stories from rec

— Conservative Sen. Nicole Eaton, peeved about chunks chomped from the dock of her cottage, pushed for the polar bear to replace the beaver as Canada’s official animal. The senator called the beaver “a has-been” and “a big rat, that doesn’t reflect our new values.”

— Officials in Bonnyville, Alta., blew up more than 70 beaver dams that threatened to flood farmland.

— Residents of Ottawa’s Stittsville community successfully rallied to prevent the city from killing two beavers that had moved into a local pond.

— Ramara Township, Ont., paid trappers $100 per beaver after the rodents overran the area. “They breed faster than we can trap them,” one official said.

That’s right. Beavers breed once a year and Canadians can only trap once a year. Which, coincidentally, is the exactly the number of times they go to church, read a book, and change their socks. You might go comment on the article which at the moment is enjoying the wrath of beaver ignorance and young men. In the mean time you should appreciate this stunning photo from Nevada Magazine of the beaver ponds at Lamoille Valley. Remember, this is a desert.

Mutiny over the Bounty

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Who's Killing Beavers Now? October 2, 2013

Beauregard police jurors to consider beaver bounty

Beauregard Parish police jurors are looking at ways to put the parish’s busiest builders out of work. Police jurors say beavers are damming ditches and causing flooding problems in the parish.

Police jurors on Tuesday said complaints from residents have prompted discussion on starting a beaver bounty program. Police jurors took no action Tuesday on the issue, but said they plan for more discussion in coming weeks.

This isn’t the first time the panel has considered a bounty. In 2009, police jurors said beavers dams were causing issues at Bundick Lake and elsewhere in the parish.

First of all, and I believe I speak for everyone when I say this, what the heck is a “police juror”? It sounds like an absolutely terrible idea. Like a “Nazi dentist” or “Pyrotechnic Hairdresser”!
The Police Jury

The Police Jury system is a pattern for local governance that is unique to the state of Louisiana. Members of the Police Jury are elected by the voters of the parish, and the Jury functions as both the legislative and executive branch of government for the parish. Its members – Jurors – elect a President as their chairman. This President presides over the Police Jury and serves as head of the parish government.

Only two branches of government? I’m actually disappointed, you’d think they’d be able to sneak the judicial in there somewhere, too. Are they armed? (Don’t be silly, Heidi. It’s LOUISIANA, the janitors are armed.) Well apparently the alligators aren’t enough of a deterrent and they need to reward citizens for killing their beavers.

And second of all, is this really the best way you can think of to handle the problem? You know the Clemson Pond Leveler was invented in Georgia and that’s like two states away. My mother is from Louisiana so I know there are smart people in the Parish, just waiting for you to do better. In the meantime the Police Jury will look into creating Beaver Bounties to fix the problem and I will contemplate how much more quickly jurors could reach a unanimous decision if they were armed.