When you undertake a gigantic change that has never come close to being done before, you begin very simply. Baby steps forward. Eyes on the prize. Never stop moving obliquely towards the light.
Except no one ever told Eric Robinson change happens slowly. He’s just beavering in. All-in.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has, for nearly a century, adhered to a strict policy saying that forbid beaver relocation. Beavers were problems. And you don’t move problems to somebody else’s property. Unlike Washington and Utah and Idaho a beaver causing trouble in one place can NOT be live trapped with his family and relocated to another place where his dam building might do some good. Never mind beaver contribution to watershed, drought, fire prevention, biodiversity. The only solution is the final solution.
“BETTER DEAD THAN WATERSHED”
Until the revolution that is.
This week will be the first ever meeting on beaver relocation in California. It is the vision of Eric Robinson of Southern California and involves his dream to bring back beaver from the crushing traps of San Diego and restore them to the empty dryish creekbeds of the Tule Tribe with the help of some well-placed friends. Like all revolutionaries, he has a vision of a better world and no time for the obstacles to his success.
The famed Molly Alves from the Tulalip tribe will be there teaching beaver relocation and housing, wildlife rehab staff will get first hand training from the expert, joined by our own Cheryl Reynolds and Brock, Kate and Kevin of the OAEC. It will be, for all intents and purposes the first meeting of the beaver revolution to rattle California and you can bet there is already serious push-back against it happening.
But it is happening.
If you feel the earth move suddenly this week you’ll know why. There are ideas that are so radical even talking about them is heresy of a kind. Get ready for life beyond the barricades, because its coming.
This revolution will not be televised. But you can read about it, here.
