Month: May 2019

ANOTHER HAND ON DECK

heidi08 Beavers and salmon May 31, 2019

Do you remember that popular kid who you really really wanted to be in your play but he never came to rehearsals and refused to help with the curtains. And then when he finally showed up after the performance has started you were torn between jumping up and down with joy that he came and suddenly launching into your own performance of “the little red hen” and angrily sending him away?

Well, the popular kid just got here.

Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered California Salmon Harmed by Federal Beaver-killing

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity today launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program for killing California beavers and harming native salmon, southwestern willow flycatchers and other endangered wildlife that uses habitats created by beavers.

In California last year, Wildlife Services killed nearly 1,000 beavers using firearms, traps and snares.

“California’s beavers need to be protected, not persecuted,” said Collette Adkins, a Center attorney and biologist. “Beavers are nature’s engineers, building dams and ponds that help endangered fish and frogs. Our federal government needs to stop shooting and trapping native beavers whose ponds are safe havens for other wildlife.”

Of course this is an echo of the suit already launched by EPIC and the Western Environmental Law center 6 months ago and sure they’re late to the fight, but yes, make room for CBD at the table because they’re turning their full firepower on and going after Wildlife Services. Of course you and I both that the vast majority of beaver depredation happens outside the auspices of WS but this can’t hurt. Point out how important beavers are to salmon. Make the case to the public that killing beavers is the same as killing salmon. Yes let’s all welcome them on board.

Last year, in response to a similar litigation threat, Wildlife Services agreed to stop killing beavers, river otter, muskrat and mink in Oregon.

Numerous studies show beavers benefit endangered salmon and steelhead by building ponds with natural cover and food for the fish. Endangered frogs and birds, including Oregon spotted frogs and southwestern willow flycatchers, rely on wetland habitats formed by beaver dams.

But Wildlife Services kills beavers without considering the impacts to other animals that rely on their dams and ponds to survive.

For example, over a 10-year period in Sacramento County, Wildlife Services killed more than 1,000 beavers, even though federally protected Chinook salmon and steelhead live there and use habitats created by beavers.

Oh i like that. Tie it directly to Sacramento county, which btw has been number 2 in beaver depredation every year we’ve looked at records. Sacramento county with its precious levee system that is constantly accusing beavers of tunneling through their retaining walls.

“Not only are beavers ecologically important, they’re smart, hardworking and adorable,” said Adkins. “My heart breaks for the thousands of beavers needlessly shot and trapped by Wildlife Services.”

Wildlife Services has never analyzed how its killing of beavers affects California’s endangered wildlife, even though the Endangered Species Act requires such study.

Her heart breaks? Hmm that’s an odd thing to say in court, but okay. Yours and mine don’t break. They get steely like flint with resolve. Our hearts get less gullible, less patient. And very very observant.

Today’s notice letter starts a 60-day clock until the Center can file its lawsuit to compel Wildlife Services to comply with the Endangered Species Act.

Well bring the fatted calf because CBD has decided to help beavers in California and regardless of how long it took them or why they delayed they’re here now and this argument just got a heckofalot more interesting.

LOOKS LIKE S. WINDSOR IS PLAYING OUR SONG

Well, California may not be ready for anything like Wyoming, but South Windsor is about to get a whole lot more like Martinez.

Let me explain.

Hearing set Thursday on beavers

SOUTH WINDSOR — With the possibility that more beavers will move into Nevers Park, Mayor Andrew Paterna is hosting a forum Thursday night on how to manage the large rodents and their activities that cause flooding and tree damage.

Attendees can hear from Christopher Vann of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Wildlife Division, the Humane Society of the United States, and Michael Callahan from Massachusetts-based Beaver Solutions LLC, which provides advice and methods on how to coexist with beavers.

Hey. I’ve seen that movie! Don’t a whole lot of people show up and demand the town save beavers? Then some city plants stand up and say the town needs protection from flooding and everyone boos. Am I thinking of the right one?

Nearly 2,100 people have signed an online petition created in April by Abbe Road resident Stephen Straight that called for town officials to meet with Callahan and implement his solutions. There is almost no doubt that beavers will return, Straight said.

“We need to stop all trapping NOW and work toward coexistence with the next beavers,” Straight’s petition states. The beavers harm no one, he added, and South Windsor residents and visitors should be able to enjoy these creatures as they go about their work.

I bet you didn’t know Martinez would be a model huh, and that other cities would follow in our footsteps? Apparently standing up for beavers is the hot new thing. it’s so cool everyone wants to try it now.

Other residents, including Carrie Morse of Maine Street, agreed that the town should have explored other options before deciding to have them trapped and killed.

Straight hired Callahan after the beavers were trapped and removed in April. The system would cost the town around $2,000 for materials and installation, Callahan said. Several residents, including Straight and Morse, have said they’ve pledged to donate to the effort.

“People really care,” Morse said. “I hope our officials realize the importance of preserving our wildlife and ecosystem.”

Nicely done Steve! I’m thinking that you have just become eligible for the Worth A Dam scholarship. It’s lovely to think of your community taking this on and your beavers benefiting because of it. To paraphrase the old Chevron commercial: Do people really show up to a meeting like this just because they care about beavers?

People do.

Ahhh memories! Like the corners of the mayor’s mind. If I live to be 102 that will remain one of my very favorite days on the face of this earth. Maybe our beavers are MIA at the moment, but by golly our hearts are still in the right place.

Oh and you can stop watching dash-cam police videos forever now. It’s been done. This is way better than a white bronco on the freeway. There’s no competition anymore. Ever again.
See for yourself.

WHY CAN’T WE BE MORE LIKE WYOMING?

heidi08 Beaver ecological impact May 29, 2019

You remember the office party We threw for Montana yesterday when it published that awesome article about why beavers shouldn’t be trapped for sport because they were valuable to the state? The conference table is still scattered with paper cups from the champagne we sneaked in through the lobby but it’s time to celebrate again. Find a cleanish one because we’re going to party hard today at this news from its downstairs neighbor. This was released yesterday by the Wyoming Game and Fish in Department.

The bulletin has 10 seriously glowing pages outlining the benefits beavers bring to the ecosystem and water table. It even discusses flow devices and wrapping trees. It’s a update of an article originally written in 1993 by Tom Collins of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department through the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Updated by Justin Joiner and Jim Wasseen in 2019. Remember those names because something tells me those officers are going to be our new best friends.

I’m just going to excerpt a few stunning paragraphs at random, but you need to read the entire thing yourself, from cover to cover. I mean it. Then close your eyes and just try imagining a bulletin like this coming from CDFW. I dare you.

This is the opening paragraph:

Many land managers have realized that beaver can play a very cost-effective role in riparian habitat man-agement and enhancement. With the exception of humans, a single beaver can modify its environment more dramatically than any individual of any species in North America. Beaver are occasionally referred to as “grassroots conservationists” because of their water impoundment and conservation efforts in our nation’s watersheds. Without beaver on our Wyoming head-waters, downstream flooding would be more severe each spring, and water conservation would be a much more serious concern. The manpower and monetary costs of providing the benefits beaver provide would be staggering.

It just gets better from here. Honestly, if you go pour through it you’ll be rewarded with some of the best beaver photos I’ve seen – I’m still trying to find their source. This was my favorite but I’ll show you Ben Goldfarb’s soon.

“…even in areas where beaver are a nuisance, management practices can sometimes be employed to preserve existing land uses while maintaining the benefits beaver provide.”

Prepare to have your jaw dropped and your eyes popped. This is an amazing document and considering the source a uncanny and incredible document. This is the kind of document that I would burst into tears over if I it had anything whatsoever to do with our efforts. i asked Joe Wheaton if he knew about it and he said yes they had sent him edits along the way and that they wanted to do this after his workshop there last year. All I can say is that the world is dam lucky to have Dr. Wheaton on the job.

“Beaver ponds stabilize water-sheds by moderating high flows and reducing downstream flood-ing; maintaining more constant summer flows; storing water during flooding and releasing wa-ter during droughts. Ponds retain sediment and organic matter, thus improving fish habitat, and the increase in water surface area produces a corresponding increase in total aquatic productivity. These ponds also provide important pool habitat for certain fish species, additional recreational opportunities (fishing, wildlife viewing, etc. and diverse scenery.”

Here’s Ben’s favorite photo – it’s a beaver stepping into a BDA and saying, “thanks guys for getting this started for me, I think I’ve got this from here“.

Do you think every other fish and game in every other state is kicking themselves that Wyoming got their first? Me neither. I think it’s probably more like the outraged republican response to that lone GOP congressman who called for impeachment. This is heresey and everyone is quick to point it out.

But wow, Just wow. This might be my very favorite part.

BEAVER CONTROL AND MINIMIZING BEAVER DAMAGE

Where beaver are in conflict with existing land uses, land managers can exercise options other than elimination of the beaver population. The riparian habitat benefits lost with total beaver control often outweigh the elimination of a nuisance problem. Since beaver fill a key role in perpetuating riparian habitat, each case should be evaluated on a site-specific basis. Without this consideration, the land manager may incorrectly interpret and react to the problem.

For example, a landowner once requested assistance in removing an estimated 200 to 300 beaver on a three-mile stream segment. During review, a wild-life biologist discovered that the area was marginal beaver habitat and only one colony was present. The landowner was seeing beaver cutting activity over the entire stream segment, much of which was old. The more recent activity from the single colony was re-stricted to about one mile of stream. It is likely that this colony’s home range was large because of marginal habitat. Multiple dams and/or dwellings were thought to reflect a larger beaver population than actually ex-isted. The landowner failed to realize that no direct relationship exists between the number of dams and dwellings and the number of beaver in an area.

So the land owner complained that there were 200-300 beaver living in his 3 mile stream and he asked for help in getting rid of them. He had no idea that beavers will chew trees in more than one area and that the number of dams and lodges can’t tell you the number of beavers. Staff determined there was a single family on site.

I need to sit down. i’m feeling faint.

Now I am tearing up because if you saw how many depredation permits we have reviewed with outrageous complaints about beavers based on zero zero possibility that they could be true, and no one from CDFW goes to check or verify they just hand out the permit that says “hey kill as many as you can find, thanks.”

But Wyoming checked.

TREE REMOVAL

Removal of valuable trees, ornamentals, or entire tree stands by beaver is another concern of land managers. Ornamental damage is usually associated with rural homes and occasionally with urban situations. Techniques such as exclusion fencing and/or wrapping have successfully deterred beaver from cutting ornamentals.

Oh Oh Oh. Exclusion fencing and wrapping trees recommended by the wyoming game and fish department. I’m beyond faint. I feel positively convulsive. Why can’t california have this?

CONCLUSION

Because of their ability to dramatically alter their environment, beaver can play a key role in riparian habitat management. Several agencies and numerous publications are available which provide the land manager with proven riparian habitat management techniques

Oh sure, just go around writing smart things about beavers and checking outrageous lies while California fish and wildlife just sits and picks its nose and learns NOTHING despite all the smart thinking that goes on around us. Just continue showing how skilled and responsive you can be to wildlife and riparian structure and we’ll just watch enviously while our entire state burns from the top to the bottom.

Still, it’s wonderful that wyoming has learned so much and is able to share its knowledge. We’re happy for you.

Really happy.

SUPPORT MOUNTING IN MONTANA

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers and climate change, Who's saving beavers now? May 28, 2019

Do we think of Montana as a beaver-saving hotspot? Looking at this article I’m thinking maybe we should. Check this out:

Guest view: Recreational trapping of beavers should be banned

Wetlands are among the most critically threatened habitats that provide for high species diversity and storage of water we all depend on. Beavers create life-sustaining wetlands. Yet, Montana’s recreational trappers kill an unlimited number of beavers every year for fur and recreation.

One million animal and plant species are at imminent risk of extinction.

We need leadership now. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks could immediately suspend recreational trapping of Montana’s wildlife because the governmental agency realizes that it is urgent to start preserving wild animals. FWP administers its trapping program strictly for recreation. In Montana alone, trappers brutally kill tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of wild animals caught in leghold traps, conibears and snares, every trapping season. If these animals were allowed to survive, they would hopefully enjoy their lives, including raising a family and by doing so, fulfill important ecological functions crucial to ecosystem resilience.

Whoa! Banning recreational trapping in Montana because beavers make life-sustaining wetlands. I’m rubbing my eyes. Is this a dream? Of course that wouldn’t work here. Here in California you could ban ALL recreational trapping and fur trapping of any kind and 3000 beavers a year would still be on the hit list. We’re civilized.

California, of course, kills beavers because they’re “inconvenient” not because its fun.

In the era of climate change and accelerating extinction crisis caused by humans, the massive recreational trapping of wild animals becomes not only appallingly ludicrous but dangerous for all of us. Sir Robert Watson, IBPES chair, noted that exploitive human activity is “eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.”

Montana provides headwaters for the entire continent, but trapping has caused a steep decline of beavers (and other wild animals), which has dried up streams and wetlands for beavers to inhabit. However, there are still suitable places for reintroduced beavers to thrive — but only if traps are off the landscape.

Now this is a SMART letter. ‘Montana provides headwaters for the entire continent” is my very favorite sentence. Beavers protect and maintain those headwaters. Don’t stop trapping because it’s cruel, or icky (even thought it is). Stop killing the things that save your water. The things that could save US from climate change. This writer knows what she’s doing.

No environmental impact statement has ever been conducted to assess the major ecological impacts of removing tens of thousands of animals from their habitats by Montana trappers every year. Such a scientific assessment would likely show damaging shock waves to ecosystems. Indiscriminate trapping unravels a strong network of stability in ecosystems we depend on.

Wow! You are my new favorite human in Montana Anja! She’s a postdoctoral fellow at UM and the executive director of Footloose Montana. So she know a thing a two about her audience. I sent her the info about Mitch Wagner’s signature case arguing that beaver removal should require an EIR and let Mitch know about the article as well, but who knows, maybe they’re already best friends?

Now for some great photos from that beaver rescue i told you about yesterday in Ottawa parliament. Donna Debreuil sent them last night, and they’re excellent. i don’t know why they didn’t make it to the article but enjoy!

BEAVER SUPPORTERS ON ALL SIDES

heidi08 Beavers May 27, 2019

Weren’t those wonderful photos Rusty shared yesterday? I thought so too, and you probably wished he would share more this morning, but vacation’s over and you’re stuck with regular old me. It’s okay, I have some good news to share, though. Thanks Rusty! Then a thank you to our friends at Safari west who made another generous donation to our beaver festival this year. There was also a darling little girl who wanted to sit in the very front row because beavers were her favorite animal.

Smart kid.

This morning there’s nice beaver news from Ontario thanks to our good friend Donna DeBreuil of the Ottawa Carlson Wildlife Centre.

Carry on, wayward beaver: Our national animal visits Major’s Hill Park

A beaver walks into Major’s Hill Park. Is there anything more majestic? It was a tourist’s dream, this sight that visitors to Major’s Hill Park were treated to Thursday morning.

And this isn’t the first time a wayward beaver has wandered someplace it shouldn’t be in Ottawa. One ended up at a Lone Star restaurant (maybe it wanted some fajitas?).

Another ended up on Sparks Street, where it was rescued by two MPs from Cape Breton who herded it across Wellington Street and back into the Ottawa River.

“(Those MPs) knew what to do. Us Ontarians probably would have panicked and called in the military,” Donna DuBreuil, the founder of Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre, said.

Ahh it pays to have friends in high places! Thanks Donna for calling the right man for the job and getting this little guy back on his way.

Clearly, seeing beavers so far from home isn’t an irregular occurrence. In the case of this Major’s Hill Park beaver, its displacement isn’t even because of the recent floods.

“(Beavers) stay with the colony until they’re two years old, then … they’re shunted out. This is the time of year that’s happening because the female is having newborn kits,” DuBreuil said.

But not to worry; there’s a happy ending for this beaver. The National Capital Commission’s conservation team, headed by senior conservation officer Jason Pink, brought the fella to DuBreuil’s wildlife centre. There, they decided to release it on the west side of the Ottawa River, close to the Green Belt.

“There’s been a lot of criticism over the years about the city not responding humanely to wildlife issues,” she said. “Kudos to the NCC … (for changing) that.”

Hurray beaver finding safe waters! And hurray for helpers who know what to do. Time for the most Canadian photo you will ever see and one of my perennial favorites. Of course this little kit isn’t a disperser, but you get the idea.

And on the local front, our own Martinez beaver supporter April L. had her letter appear in the recent issue of ranger rick magazine and its a lovely reminder why children and beavers matter. Just in case any body still wondered.