The Utica Zoo in New York is proudly boasting of its recent acquisition of the Beaver Sanctuary outside Doldgeville, Florence J. Reineman Nature Center and Beaversprite Wildlife Sanctuary! It was the labor of love for Dorothy back in the day and the site where countless children learned about beavers over the years. Now it will be part of the zoo’s many projects, still dedicated to wetlands and their many residents.
A Fulton County site dedicated to restoring and advocating for beaver populations has been acquired by the Utica Zoo.
The Florence J. Reineman Nature Center and Beaversprite Wildlife Sanctuary is a decades-old area in the rural town of Oppenheim founded by a local couple.
The Utica Zoo has plans to reopen the nature center, as well as the home of Dorothy and Al Richards as Beaversprite: A Conservation Education Center of the Utica Zoo. The zoo said it will offer a range of STEAM-based education programs for school, families, Scouts, and learners of all ages and abilities.
The zoo made the announcement April 7, annually celebrated as the International Day of the North American Beaver, as well as being Dorothy Richards’ birthdate.
Well we can only hope the zoo gets things off on the right foot. It’s a great opportunity to educate another generation on the benefits of beaver. I think there was always an issue with Dorothy’s heir fighting the will for the 900 acres and this is probably the safest solution although it must feel a little wistful to Owen and Sharon Brown who knew Dorothy personally and learned directly from her about why beavers matter.
Dorothy Richards, aka the “Beaver woman,” took an interest in the industrious creatures and soon began her 50 years of beaver pond sitting. She became an active conservationist and animal rights advocate, devoting most of her life to the study of the American beaver, the zoo said.
In 1938, after one of the original beavers was caught in a trap, Richards started buying up land and posting it, creating the sanctuary, according to the zoo. In 1966, the Richards donated their house and 900 acres to a Pennsylvania trust. It continued to add to the property and in 1973 opened a nature center. Dorothy Richards taught about 100,000 visitors about beavers over five decades and her book, “Beaversprite,” reached many more, according to Times Union files. Richards died in August 1985 at the age of 92.
Good luck new beginning! I hope lots of children learn the truth from you.
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