pictures – Page 8 – Worth A Dam

Cute enough for you?

heidi08 Beaver Rehabilitation, Educational, Environmental, pictures April 28, 2011

225127_10150175433954091_177045614090_7222653_8253558_n — Wild Heart Ranch -

Wild Heart Ranch is a labor of love in Oklahoma that works closely with our friend the Skunk Whisperer. They rehabilitate injured everythings and do their best to give them a second (or first) chance on life. Cheryl pointed out to me that they recently acquired a baby beaver, who was joined last night by another baby beaver that had been trapped in fishing line for two days. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty certain that is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. Here’s what she wrote about the second kit last night

New beaver kit. Pretty bad shape. He’s been floating caught in fishing line. Stomach is a mess. Little guy was hypothermic and dehydrated. Going to be a long night.

And this morning…

We are watching little Buddy Beaver around the clock tonight. He has been through a lot, but when I scratched his back, he kicked his little leg. Thats a good sign. Reflexes are starting to work and his body temp… is FINALLY stable. It took HOURS to get his core temp up. I am hopeful, and little Justin is in there with him, snuggled up. Breaks my heart what this baby went through and survived. I want so badly to pull him through this. Brave little thing. It must have been an absolute horror to have been snagged in fishing line, his mother lost, at least 2 nights alone bobbing in the water, and the rescuers said their were copperheads everywhere. When he came in, his mouth was bloody from trying to chew himself free. He is younger and smaller than justin. Breaks my heart!

later

Wild Heart Ranch Good news! Little beaver kit not only pulled through, but is up and active and playing with Justin Beaver this morning! I want to have a T shirt made that says “I ♥ B-12 & Pancake syrup!!” Thats always seemed to be the ticket. Heat them back up SLOWLY, a little sugar, a little B-12 shot, VIOLA! If they havent been too cold for too long, we have a lot of luck with this method, and by golly prayers help too! 🙂

Well, I can think of one t-shirt you’ll be getting right away. Their website offers account of the compassionate origins of Wild Heart Ranch…

Annette King Tucker began this venture in 1996 after purchasing a small farm outside of Claremore Oklahoma to “get away” from it all. Assisting wayward animals having always been a passion, it was natural for Annette to begin populating her farm with various animals in need. It wasn’t long before a friend brought her a pair of orphaned raccoon kits, and the rest is history! She discovered her life’s purpose in the welfare of two little masked bandits having nowhere else to go, and Wild Heart Ranch was born!

Hmm. Labor of love indeed. Up in the Sierras where my parents live, there used to be a wildlife rehabber who attended their church. She’d sit through mass bottle feeding tiny foxes or raccoons because they couldn’t go without being fed for the time it would take her to get to town on her own. She worked 365 days a year, from dawn to dawn and lived on a shoestring of donations from kind-hearted folk who knew that this work was worth doing. She happened to be an ex-cop who said she had retired because ‘that work was too demanding’.

Well, good luck taking care of these little beavers, and let us know if you need anything. We are grateful everyday for the work of folks like you.

A lively Alhambra Creek

heidi08 Environmental, pictures October 3, 2010

Beavers Create Habitat for Wildlife. Here’s the Proof.

Photo: Cheryl Reynolds

Beavers and otters don’t love eachother, but they’re condemned to be around eachother until the end of days. Remember that the two don’t compete for food, as the otter is a carnivore and not interested in willow. Beavers sometimes ignore otters in their territory, and sometimes show them none-to-politely to the door. Otters are a sort of ‘obligate’ nester, and don’t make their own dens. They would be thrilled to use a cozy beaver lodge to raise their pups and have spent a lot of time checking out the abandoned lodge at Bertola’s. The beavers think that’s frankly not a very good idea, and on Friday both Dad and the two year old gave tail slaps to that effect. The claim that otters will sometimes eat young kits is controversial, and I don’t know that any study ever found beaver parts in an otter tummy. Either way our kits are far to plump to be in danger any more.

I don’t know how anyone could look at this picture and not conclude that lower section of Alhambra Creek, five years ago rated the least healthy part of the waterway, is now teaming with life. That otter wouldn’t be there unless several meals were calling their names. And the ‘fish of the day’ is there because of the beaver ponds.

Thanks Cheryl.

River Architecht

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, pictures September 22, 2010

2010 Kit Photo: Cheryl Reynolds

Guest Blogger and watershed wizard Brock Dolman writes:

Now as to the question: “Can one logically say that beavers are wetlands engineers?” Not sure logically what part of the phrase & semantics does not work for you? Is it that how the moniker “engineer” would appear to be anthropomorphizing or deterministic in a way held only for Hominids? Hmmm….???

Definitions of engineer as found on google:
-design as an engineer; “He engineered the water supply project”
-a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
-mastermind: plan and direct (a complex undertaking); “he masterminded the robbery”

It has been said by a number of authors that after humans no other animal is known on the Planet to modify and manipulate more of its habitat to create conditions conducive to its survival, than beaver. Countless other lifeforms, will also gratefully acknowledge this behavior of the keystone beaver. If you have ever spent time surveying and assessing the strategic modifications that intact beaver colonies perform at scale to create their world – the best word I know of to describe their skills would be engineer – a wetland engineer, a flood control engineer, a groundwater recharge engineer, a erosion control engineer, a riparian habitat expansion engineer, a salmon habitat engineer, a biodiversity keystone engineer and climate change/watershed resiliency engineer, and an inspiring engineer at mitigating nature deficit disorder! (to name a few.) I was thinking that I want to imbue the beaver with a better CV title than simply wetland engineer – maybe Environmental Services Czar? River Architect?

Ahhh! Brock, everything you write about beavers makes me feel like I’m kicking off my shoes, curling up on the couch with a favorite book and sipping something that’s almost too good to share. Thanks a million!

Beaver Festival III

heidi08 Educational, pictures, Uncategorized July 31, 2010

We are just ten days away from Beaver Festival III, an event that began as a very local effort to pressure our stubborn council to do the right thing and became an inspiration for similar events in other cities — two in Canada! This years festival will draw visitors from all over california, and we know of at least three that are coming from out of state! The picture above is from the truly unique event brochure designed by our volunteer graphic artist Libby Corliss. (Check out the “V” in beaver and let me know if you recognize that tail!) There will be five hours of live music, environmental displays, children’s activities, beaver tours, unique gifts and education. A children’s procession at noon will unfurl the very beautiful “beaver banner” which was created by child artists at the flyway festival and earthday this year. It will be carried through the park and then hung on the footbridge through the day in celebration. Get your cameras ready!

A much anticipated part of the day will be the Keystone charm bracelet activity – free for the first 100 children. (Up to 25 adults who can’t bear to be left out can participate for a $5 materials fee.) This enormously popular activity was hatched at the flyway fiesta and adapted especially for this unique event. Children learn facts about the way beavers affect their habitat and earn charms by explaining how it all works. Friends of Alhambra Creek will have the dragonfly charm. Salmon Protection And Watershed Network will have the salmon charm. Native Bird Connections will have the Bird Charm. Lindsay Wildlife will have the Otter charm and Worth A Dam information will of course have the beaver charm. There will be a ‘linking station’ where children can go to have their charms added and at least 4 girl scouts guides roaming and explaining to make sure everyone understands. At the end of their activity the children will have a truly unique reminder of their day, that they can use to explain the value of beavers in the watershed to their friends, or their class mates, or their parents.

Meanwhile, our delightful and talented artist Frogard Butler will be helping children work with acryllic paints to populate a two sectioned mural of Alhambra Creek. She created the diptych basis for the creek design with the help of another artist from East Bay Artists Guild and children will be invited to add beavers, birds, willow, catails — as they see fit. The finished panels should make a lovely and movable display, and can hang alternately at the library, the city building, the district office or even the train station! Smocks, brushes and guidance will be provided, and all artists (young or old) are encouraged to participate.

Beaver tours will be lead throughout the day by close-observor, Jon Ridler. Learn about the primary dam and secondary dams, new lodge, how the flow device works, and see actual sign of beaver chewing. Maybe you’ll spot a resident muskrat or green heron! Remember everything so you can come back after dinner and see the event for yourself. The steel beavers created by Paul Craig for Mom’s memorial will be on display, and mom’s unique tail will be on the back of every Worth A Dam t-shirt. Visit Kathi McLaughin at the membership booth to see that this year we are also offering baseball caps and bumper stickers as thankyous for donations. The boy scouts will offer water for sale and Luigi’s popular store will offer a satellite for drinks and beaver memorabilia. Local vendors will include Wildbirds Unlimited and Divine Creations. Facepainting artist Alana Dill will be there to turn your child into a beaver or wood sprite, and when you’re done with all that stop back at the silent auction and increase your bid so that you can be sure you get what you want! Don’t forget to pick up a free beaver (temporary) tattoo from the information booth.

Top auction items this year include an overnight, dinner & tour at Safari West, tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Francisco & Oakland zoos and a host of generous donated wildlife puppets from Folkmanis. If you’re lucky you might pick up a unique framed photo from Cheryl Reynolds that will be a permanent reminder of the Martinez beavers. The silent auction closes at three, and when you’ve picked up your winnings and said your goodbyes at four, head over for an leisurely dinner at Lemon Grass Bistro or La Tapatia so that when you finish at 7 you’ll be ready for some actual beaver viewing! What a better way to end such a unique day!

Click on the photos or video to hear some of our musicians!

No rest for the weary…

heidi08 pictures, Recent Sightings March 1, 2010

This weekend had some brief hard rains, and our dams paid the price. Again. The beavers are good sports about these things, and will make speedy repairs. It’s always a great time to see their prowess at work, so if you have time in the morning tomorrow, dash down and catch the end of the show.

Of course not everyone dislikes the rain, and some animals thrive on it. Egrets for example loved the churned up waters and seem to come out in droves. Must be great fishing. This little guy went and waded through the scraped area after I took this. You could see him wiggling his flashy toes under the water to attract the fish.

Expect some changes to the face of the website today, as our generous helper tinkers with the menu bar again. Hopefully it will look like a Christmas window at Macy’s in no time!