The Center for Biological Diversity is reporting success at their campaign to save beaver in critical salmon and steelhead habitat. We will report more on this tomorrow but here is the gist right now:

LEGAL ACTION FORCES WILDLIFE SERVICES TO STOP KILLING BEAVERS

SACRAMENTO— The federal wildlife-killing program known as Wildlife Services has agreed to stop shooting and trapping California beavers on more than 11,000 miles of river and 4 million acres of land where the killing could hurt endangered wildlife.

Native salmon, southwestern willow flycatchers and other highly imperiled animals use habitats created by beavers.

The agreement came yesterday in response to a threat of litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity.

Wildlife Services, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also agreed to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to analyze the impacts of killing beavers on threatened and endangered species.

Native salmon, southwestern willow flycatchers and other highly imperiled animals use habitats created by beavers.

The agreement came yesterday in response to a threat of litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity.

Here’s a map outlining “Critical Habitat” which, by the way, includes Martinez.

What are you doing tomorrow night? Maybe I will join you and we’ll make a mass migration to see this wonderful presentation from the fairy godmother of beavers everywhere. Tempted?

‘Leave it to the Beavers’ upcoming presentation from Sherri Tippie

The SteamPlant will host an event at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 31 with a presentation from President of Wildlife 2000 Sherri Tippie to discuss beavers and their role in water resources.

Sherri Tippie (Photo courtesy of The Beaver Believers)

Colorado Headwaters is inviting the community “for an entertaining and informative evening to learn how beavers can protect vital water resources, increase ecological diversity and help counter the effects of climate change.”

“Who can turn a desert into an oasis? Who can save crops and cattle from drought? Beavers!”

The press release says: “Beavers build whole landscapes that support hundreds of other creatures. In fact, North America’s fertile landscapes are mainly the work of beavers.”

You bring the popcorn and I’ll bring the champagne. It would be so much fun to sit in the back row and bask in her spirited accessible beaver glow.

I only had the privilege of hearing her live at my very first conference. I wept tears of joy through the entire presentation. Nothing about my struggle to save our beavers seemed to matter anymore because I somehow knew Sherri would fix it. She is the hero of every beaver story and despite the fact that Ben didn’t make room for her in his book we ALL know it.

Sherri is to beavers what Henry Ford was to automobiles, Jackson Pollock is to modern art, or what Martin Luther King Jr is to race relations. Listening to her changes everything.

Sherri Tippie with kit and awesome t-shirt

Now, one might think, at this late stage of my beaver career, that I had seen every single cool beaver drawing this side of the Atlantic and beyond. But yesterday reminded me that there are still wonderful surprises to discover. This clever feat is from what artist Jordan Fretz called “Interactive Art“.

Isn’t it wonderful?