Month: September 2018

WY THE HECK NOT?

heidi08 Beaver Book, Beavers September 20, 2018

It’s time for some more good news on Ben Goldfarb sprinkling his book over the countryside, don’t you think? This time in Wyoming because WY the heck not?

‘Eager’ author coming to talk beavers

Today most Americans never see a beaver. If they do it will be the stump of an expensive ornamental tree in their yard that alerts them. They’ll call a professional trapper — it falls into the category of pest control — and consider the problem solved. For many beavers being trapped is the same as being killed. Those who receive more humane treatment find themselves dumped someplace where it’s thought they will build a new life, or at least a life out of suburban neighborhood.

This happens around here. Goldfarb’s book begins with a segment about Drew Reed, a trapper who transplants his caught beavers up the Gros Ventre River drainage. Goldfarb compares the reaction of the two beavers being trapped, held in a horse trailer and then tossed out in a strange place to a science fiction abduction, “like being snatched by aliens from your bed in Sacramento, spending a day in isolation aboard a mysterious mothership and then being dumped unceremoniously into a cornfield in Topeka.”

Isn’t it wonderful to see local heroes featured around the nation? Much needed beaver wisdom in Wyoming from one of their own! You would think the SF chronicle would get around to doing a snippet on our Martinez story wouldn’t you? But apparently beavers and their solutions to drought and climate change are beneath them.

No, I’m not bitter. it’s my birthday so I’m trying out a new gallery toy. Isn’t it cool?

Today the Western states are the focus of “beaver believers,” people who hope to see the populations restored. It’s an area where water is often scarce and damming beavers restore and expand fertile land and wildlife habitat. It’s also a place where there’s enough public land and large ranches to accommodate the rodents without bothering neighbors.

Goldfarb’s book is a fine introduction to the creatures, to the reasons they nearly disappeared and why their return should be encouraged. He’ll be at Teton County Library next week to talk and sign books.

Hurray for Jackson Hole! And hurray for Ben Goldfarb spreading the beaver gospel all across this thirsty nation. I hope you can see the huge difference you are making to the beaver conversation at every venue.

BEAVER FAKE NEWS!

heidi08 Beavers September 19, 2018

Every now and then, the universe just throws a curve ball and you are left scratching your head and saying “wh-a-a-a-a?”. Sometimes the curve ball comes from a pitcher you’d never expect. Like for instance the Metro park system in Portland who we have praised many, many, times on this very website. As far as urban parks and beavers go, they are the apex, the top of the hill.

Until this.

Like all curve balls it starts out so well. A straight shot with good things to offer. My ears perk up and I physically lean into the pitch.

Beavers are redefining the landscape at Smith and Bybee Lake Wetlands Natural Area

Leave it to beavers.

That’s what Metro scientists are doing to restore wetlands and the channel that connects The beavers do most of the work, with an assist from Metro regional parks.

See isn’t that a great start? A park system that recognizes the importance of beavers and the way they help. It’s like sinking into to a comfortable bath that’s just the right temperature. Ahhhh…and then…

It turns out beaver and nutria — the former is native, the latter invasive — work together building dams. And that’s a problem along the channel that connects Smith and Bybee lakes.

“Nutria will help beavers build those dams,” said Elaine Stewart, a Metro resource scientist. “They will tunnel into the side of banks in the channel and take that mud and pack the mud onto beaver dams. It made for a lot of trouble dismantling them to restore the water flow of the channel.”

Nutria help beavers build dams? Nutria carry mud from their excavations to place on dams? If that were true nutria must have the very worst press secretary EVER. Oregon Fish and Wildlife calls them a “Negative keystone species” because what they do harms everyone equally.

And the ‘scientist’ said it on the news. Fake News! Fake News!

Signs of beaver activity are everywhere. From slides and trails to a new, wide dam.

“It’s almost entirely the work of beavers,” Stewart said. “You can see that because it’s almost all wood. There’s very little mud.“

Right.

Because everyone knows beavers never use mud to hold things together. Only the nutria use the mud. Which makes it so hard to rip the dams apart. I know these things because I’m a scientist and I attended a class on beavers.

You don’t think I missed anything when I fell asleep do ya?

Those photos don’t mean anything. The beaver could have been imitating what he learned from the nutria. I’m sure the beavers are just trying something new that day. Beavers don’t use mud. Nutria use mud I’m telling you. Look at my name tag, I’m a scientist!

Well we have a film too. A night time film. With music. Because we know what they’re talking about. Beavers building dams. And nutria…well…right there. You can see for yourself…

Night Moves: Beavers and Nutria Build a Dam from oregonmetro on Vimeo.

I’ve watched this film over and over and I don’t see the nutria lifting a finger, or claw. You let me know if I missed the frame where they pick up the trowel, will you?

The nutria, ma’am,
Can’t build a dam
The muskrat never flies
The otters tail
Is not a whale
Except when Metro Lies.

ADVOCATES UNDER PRESSURE

heidi08 Beavers and water, Who's saving beavers now? September 18, 2018

Beavers: An Unlikely Solution To Western Drought

I’ve been thinking in these past few days about the tight space a certain kind of beaver advocate finds themselves in. The kind that comes when you have been listened to a ‘little’ bit, and people are behaving as if they were willing to do you a favor by telling you privately how difficult the situation is behind the scenes and how they are doing everything they can. I was thinking of the vice-grip of pressure you feel in those moments, not to give up the thing you’re trying to protect, and not to be overpowered, but also not to appear unreasonable, (heavens!) because you don’t want to lose your hard-won status as the practical one who can see both sides and is willing to make compromises. You want to avoid saying “don’t do this” outright if you can, but you see the train is moving in the wrong direction and you want to step in before it gets too far from the station.

Maybe what I’m describing is too vague to understand, I always thought it was unique to my experience on the beaver subcommittee, but I had an hour conversation yesterday with a beaver guardian that reminded me I’m not alone in this. The farther I am from the drama the easier it is to see the chess pieces moving. “I shouldn’t be telling you this but” “We’ve done everything we can to work with the landowner but” “you did a great job explaining your position but now it’s time to back off, or you risk turning folks against you”.

It’s not just me. When you’re alone on the other side of that message you feel so torn and motionless. You can’t go forward, you can’t possibly go back, and you know one misstep could bring down the entire card house that you’ve worked so hard to put together.

I thought last night that it might be a uniquely female experience although I never did before. This pressure to behave while you are pushing hard for the thing you want to save, and never act like anyone is doing anything wrong or lying to you even when you know damn well they are – that’s the beaver-guardian’s dilemma, And it’s what I felt every single day on the subcommittee and right up through the sheetpile destruction. It’s why to this day I can say with out hesitation that serving on the beaver subcommittee was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, harder than my dissertation, harder than doing therapy with sex offers, harder than working in the teen psych hospital, harder than testifying as an expert witness.

It was HARD.

It was only when I saw those historic sheet pile photos, and realized that everyone had been lying straight to my face outright for months, with their so-sorry voices and secret phone calls — that all their covert messages to be patient and forbear were outrageous falseoods, that I finally felt free of it. Done. Released. So that now when Carmen in Texas, or Nancy in Michigan or Judy in Port Moody tells me that they feel confused and trapped and like they’re getting pressure on all sides from the city to cooperate but they know its the wrong thing and would hurt the beavers I can literally see the choking translucent net that holds them constrained.

I remember exquisitely how it felt, and that helps me point them towards the scissors so they can cut themselves free.

It took a long time, but I started learning eventually that it’s okay to be outraged when people behave outrageously. And that the amount of power you have is actually the opposite of the messages you are helpfully being told about it.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? September 17, 2018

Are you a wildlife loving, hard worker who’s always dreamed of living in nature?

The Unexpected Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey’s unexpected loss might be your incredible gain.

In case you don’t know the story, the history of the Refuge begins with a love of wildlife. in 1961, Cavit and Hope Buyukmihci, with their three children, purchased an 85-acre tract in Buena Vista Township, located in the Pinelands, halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mostly wooded swampland, the purchase included a cabin and an old barn on an acre of cleared land, and a stream which beavers had dammed to create a large pond. The Buyukmihcis were distressed by the increase in land development, reducing the habitat available for wildlife in Southern New Jersey. Since childhood, Hope had enjoyed the delightful wonder of bluebirds nesting in the spring, and it was vital that she passed along her respect and love for nature to her family. The couple decided to dedicate their land to habitat preservation so that native wildlife and habitat could thrive.

For years and years the refuge was run by the unflappable Sarah Summerville, and when a replacement was needed they scoured the boundaries and thought they’d found the answer. But she has to leave and the a new search goes on. I was asked this morning to pass on the invitation to apply for the job of a lifetime.

Unexpected Wildlife Refuge is seeking a residential onsite manager. This is a rewarding and challenging position for a responsible and self-motivated individual who is interested in nature and wildlife and maintaining land as protected natural habitat. Preference will be for a person who is at least a vegetarian and who has practical experience with wildlife or academic training so that they are knowledgeable about wildlife in general. We will also consider someone without this experience, but who is motivated enough to learn about indigenous species so that they can be an asset to the Refuge’s education and outreach efforts. The manager lives onsite in provided, free accommodations, including utilities.

If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please send the following by E-mail only, to Nedim Buyukmihci, president, ned.trustee@unexpectedwildliferefuge.org:

1. Letter explaining why you would be the ideal candidate;
2. an expanded resume; and
3. full contact information for at least three people who can critically vouch for your commitment to wildlife or non-human animals in general, abilities, reliability and honesty (at least one of the people should be your most recent or current employer, none can be a relative and your relationship with each should be made clear).

This link will explain what you need to know about the position. It requires a fairly unique combination of skills including advocacy, outreach and refuge maintenance. What a great place for a budding novelist, painter, young couple to awaken their muses while making such a difference in a place where such a difference is needed

Here’s former cartaker Sarah showing off the resident beaver lodge.

URBAN BEAVER WISDOM

heidi08 Urban beavers September 16, 2018

When we start feeling proud of our little bit of beaver paradise here in Martinez, a glance or two northwards puts humility back in our step. Take Seattle for instance. – which is so full of beaver intelligence it boasts soccer parks like these.

Take a timeout for nature at Seattle’s Magnuson Park

Seattle families are familiar with the park’s soccer and youth-ultimate fields, but fall is a great time to enjoy the wetlands and look for beaver, listen for frogs and watch for 200 different birds.

From sports fields to art sales to its immense lakefront off-leash dog area, Magnuson Park is a lot of things to a lot of people. But to Seattle’s nature fanciers, it’s a special place.

Just ask Emily Bishton, otherwise known as Teacher Emily, who spent 13 years as an environmental educator, showing people around the park.

“It has such a diversity of ecosystems. The wetlands are very unique. There is a milelong lakeshore, acres and acres of grassland ecosystem.”

There is forest too, but it comes in small chunks, so there is lots of the kind of edge habitat — part forest, part meadow — that attracts a lot of wildlife. For example, around 200 species of birds will spend time in the park over the year.

Because the fields are nestled up against the wild part of the park, they are easily accessible if you want to go for quick stroll during warm-up. At times the wild comes onto the field. For example, when my son was in seventh grade, play at his ultimate game came to a halt when a teammate found an owl pellet on the sidelines.

Engineers installed the most spectacular section, a 30-acre network of wetlands and ponds, in 2008 and 2010. They are just east and south of the playing fields. They are still changing year to year.

Not those kinds of engineers, but still….

Right as it turns dark, there’s a good chance you can see adult beavers and young beavers also.”

Even if you don’t see beavers around, or it’s the wrong time of day, you can find a lot of evidence of where they have been at work. It doesn’t take long to find stumps or logs with chewed ends.

Beavers are relentless in the pace of their activity, taking down trees, building dams and lodges, and even digging canals. They are as busy as a … as a mother with three kids and a full-time job. And their work isn’t always convenient for humans. They have flooded the trails from time to time, so that parks staff have had to install devices called “beaver deceivers” to keep the water flowing. But Bishton says the beavers also do the city a service, by chewing down young trees.

“The beavers have definitely helped clear some open space for some trees to get as big as they should and so people to be able to see,” she says.

That’s not all those beavers are doing for your park-a-topia, Emily, They are affecting the invertebrate population which is increasing the density and diversity of fish and birds. They are causing coppicing on all those branches they chew and making safe new homes for all kinds of migratory and songbirds. By changing the fish population they are attracting river otters to the wetlands. And their filtering toxins out of the waters with their dams.

Heck, and if you hadn’t installed those beaver deceivers they would have made those expensive wetlands themselves for free.