How was your Halloween? Ours was typical and one sharp little ghost-princess even correctly used the beaver knocker and exclaimed proudly “It’s a BEAVER!” So we of course gave her lots of candy.
Today it is officially November and time for the pondering of great mysteries as we brace ourselves for the holiday crush. First mystery? Figure out this very complicated riddle.
It’s really. really hard. I’m warning you.
Trout habitat improvements also benefit nongame native fish
Habitat improvements in the Laramie River intended to boost the brown trout fishery also have benefited native nongame fish, according to newly published research by University of Wyoming scientists.
In the Laramie River, a number of habitat improvements have been undertaken to boost the brown trout fishery, including placement of trees and logs to create additional structure, and rock riprap to prevent channel meandering. At four locations in the river near Laramie—including the public Monolith Ranch and Laramie Greenbelt sites—Rahel and Dugan studied the impact of habitat improvements on both brown trout and the smaller native fish.
They found that both brown trout and all but one species of the smaller native fish are drawn to the additional structure created by habitat improvements—especially wood placed in the river. Both added wood and natural wood patches—exposed roots, submerged branches and log jams—provide spaces for the smaller fish to hide from the brown trout, which also favor the additional structure.
Gosh. You’re telling me that woody debris in rivers helps all kinds of fish a whole lot? And piles of submerged sticks and branches help those fish flourish? Wow if there was ONLY some natural way we could fill our streams with wood bundles every so often, I mean without paying millions of grad students to do it. over and over. And then have something on hand to replace the wood if it washes out or rots. Sheesh, I can’t think of anything, Can you?
And hey, as an added bonus, Chris Jones of Cornwall just posted this excellent educational film on how fish navigate beaver dams. Apparently the beavers and climate change film that stars the Martinez Beavers is headed to Devon after their London appearance. So I’ve hope you’ve packed for a long stay.
Excellent explanation, Chris! And delivered at just the right time. Now the rule was I was supposed to finish the urban beaver booklet in October clearing the way for the grant application in November. But I’m still waiting on a contribution from Nancy May of Michigan, which I think is worth waiting for because of the regional distribution. So I’ll start the grant anyway and pop her part in when it comes.
Yesterday we were contacted by this years’ AmericCorp Watershed Stewards Interns asking for projects or activities to help out with and hopefully we’ll have volunteers again at Earthday or the Festival. They are excellent workers and usually happy not to be in the mud for an afternoon.
Oh and this was some lovely footage of my favorite thing eating my favorite thing. I wanted to share from Sally Naser of Massachusetts, Judy from B.C. says her urban beavers eat rose hips this time of year. Happy November!
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