Category: Beaver-themed merchandise

These are unusual beaver-themed designed merchandise we like. Some of the items have been donated to Worth A Dam, and some we just hope they will be soon.

Legacy

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver Behavior, Beaver-themed merchandise, Beavers, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and Ice, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions, Who's saving beavers now? March 26, 2017

Finally! The article about our beaver tenure came out! Of course it arrived the moment after I posted yesterday, but it’s perfect for our only-good-news-Sunday. It’s also a well written article by Martinez resident Sam Richards. (Turns out he lives next-door to the house where I grew up – because Martinez!) It is accompanied by Susan Pollard’s wonderful photos and I don’t sound as horrible as I was worried might happen, but I’m never happy when Luigi talks about feeding beavers with a stick. If you want to see the video where I look positively slagged you are going to have to click on the link to find it yourself. I manage one good line at the end, anyway.

A decade of beavers (mostly) in Martinez

MARTINEZ — It started in 2007, when downtown Martinez citizens noticed Alhambra Creek was flowing slow, and that trees along the banks had been gnawed down to little points. The furry, buoyant culprits were elusive at first, but their first dam of sticks, leaves and mud near Marina Vista Avenue told the, er, tail.

After winning an early fight over their very lives, given concerns about downtown flooding, the beavers went from cause celebre to cause for adoration. There were (and are) “Martinez Beavers” T-shirts and bumper stickers, and the 10th annual Beaver Festival will take place in August.

“Who had even heard of beavers in town before?” said Heidi Perryman, president of the nonprofit Worth a Dam group. Someone she met literally walking down the street told her that beavers lived a few blocks from her Martinez home.

“It’s actually pretty common, it turns out, but I didn’t know it then,” said Perryman, whose preservation efforts have helped give the local beavers a dash of national notoriety, and even some international interest, given the recently rejuvenated efforts to reintroduce Eurasian beavers in England, where they had been extinct since the 1500s, killed for their pelts (and as an acceptable edible substitute for fish during Lent).

“It’s been both a feel-good and a do-good story for Martinez,” said City Councilman Mark Ross, an early champion of the beavers. The rodents themselves have, by and large, done well in the creek; the creek’s ecology has indeed improved, say environmentalists who credit the beavers; and Martinez has become known for something beyond Joe DiMaggio, John Muir and the Shell oil refinery.

A feel good story for Martinez! Thank you for that quote Mr. Ross, I think I’ll put it in my city grant application. It’s nice to see the story remembered in such detail. I sent the reporter a copy of our newsletter which prompted him to think about it. Like pretty much everyone, he had no idea ten years had passed already.

At Luigi’s Deli, about a block from Alhambra Creek, a wall is packed with photos of people owner Luigi Daberdaku has met over the years. Most of them, he said, came downtown to find the beavers.

It didn’t take long for the beavers to win his and others’ hearts. Daberdaku fed them apple pieces — on a long stick. “I saw what the teeth did to the trees; what could they do to my hand?”

At a November 2007 meeting at Alhambra High School, David Frey of Pleasant Hill, a maritme consultant, suggested Martinez city engineers build a diversion around the beaver dam so the beavers don’t have to be relocated. The “beaver deceiver” built the next year accomplished just that. Dan Rosenstrauch/Staff archives

Daberdaku didn’t support downtown property owners who initially wanted the beavers gone. Neither did most who spoke at a rowdy November 2007 City Council meeting at Alhambra High School, where everything from moving the beavers to embracing their tourism potential to renaming the high school sports teams from the Bulldogs to the Beavers was discussed. Many invoked the name of a famous environmentalist son: “What would John Muir do?” One woman said, “We don’t want to be known as a refinery town that kills beavers, right?”

Former Martinez mayor Harriett Burt said learning the science of the beavers changed her mind. “It raised awareness about the creek environment in general,” she said recently, “and it’s been a good thing.”

Good Harriet! And Bad Luigi! I remember the night we caught him feeding apples with a stick and told him to stop. I hoped that was the only time. But that’s what happens when an entire city raises beavers. Not everyone is a good parent. The reporter even talked to Skip, which I’m sure amused him.

But the beavers’ real stay of execution may have been the “beaver deceiver,” a water bypass pipe under a dam, installed by Vermonter Skip Lisle in 2008. Designed to fool beavers into thinking they’re successfully damming a waterway, the pipe “secretly” carries water under the dam to prevent flooding.

Lisle still marvels at his Martinez assignment. “I was building a beaver deceiver, and there were throngs of people there, media, and helicopters overhead. It was unique.”

Perryman and the Worth a Dam group have kept beavers in the public eye, even when they were absent from Alhambra Creek. Beavers’ images adorn downtown murals at one creek crossing, and on a “tile bridge” downstream with children’s depictions of the beavers. The Martinez Beaver Festival, an intimate gathering at its 2008 beginning, now draws hundreds to the small patch near the Amtrak station that some call “Beaver Park.” For two years, a group from Oakland led by a city environmental stewardship analyst took the train to Martinez for lessons on how beavers renew urban streams.

Worth a Dam has also inspired other beaver champions. Caitlin McCombs found that group’s work while looking for help saving beavers near her home in Mountain House, near Tracy. McCombs then started the MH Beavers preservation group.

“I never knew before that beavers serve as a vital keystone, and that they promote an overall healthier environment,” said McCombs.

Caitlin! What a wonderful quote! We are so proud to have been part of your V.I.B.E. (Very Important Beaver Education). She won’t be joining us for earth day this year because she has a conference to attend for college, and we will miss her. But I feel that we helped her raise the awareness in Mountain House and she will think differently about beavers for her entire life. That makes me entirely happy.

By October 2015, the beavers were no longer deceived by the black pipe and built new dams downstream before leaving altogether soon after that. Some of the 24 Martinez kits had died, and others moved on. The original mother beaver, with a new younger mate, left, too.

But Perryman and others were overjoyed when, on March 5, a beaver was seen in the creek near downtown. It’s been seen at least twice since, and photographed at least once.

Does this mean they’re back? With three verified sightings, Perryman says yes.

Then again, were they ever really “gone?” While registering for a marathon recently, Councilman Ross said he was from Martinez. “The guy … said to me, ‘How are those beavers?’ Everywhere you go, the legacy of the beavers remains.”

Beaver legacy! That’s what we have. Of course., I’d rather have the actual beavers, but hey, it’s way more than most cities ever get. Thank you Sam for another fine reminder the beavers promote a city’s good nature. And thank the beavers for being such great sports for a decade even though the city installed a wall of metal through their lodge. What a crazy, beautiful way to spend a decade of your life!

Time for some lovely donations to the silent auction. This week’s treasures come from Litographs in Cambridge Massachusetts. They are a remarkable business I happen to love because they turn favorite literature into wearable art. Literally. The entire text of a beloved book becomes a shirt, card, poster, tote or scarf. Catcher in the Rye, Scarlet Letter, Jane Eyre, Hamlet, The Princess Bride, classic or contemporary.

“We founded Litographs because we had a vision of bringing our favorite literature off the page, onto your walls, and into your wardrobe. We believe in sharing the power of books with more people.“

This is the entire text of Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” which they generously gave beautifully matted and ready for framing.

Long ago I had a conversation with owner Danny Fein about possibly working with the now-public-domain text “In Beaver World” by Enos Mills. While he wasn’t sure this was a project they would tackle any time soon, he personally made this for our event. Look closely because that is the entire book. Thank you Danny and friends at Litographs! For this beautiful addition to our silent auction.

Napatopia Wins Again!

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver-themed merchandise, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere March 12, 2017

Good news on Sundays is an easy policy to follow. Especially when Napa wins the Wetland War once again. Credit Rusty Cohn for bravely visiting Friday afternoon Tulocay creek where the beavers are very slowly rebuilding their damaged dam. Guess what he saw?

Napa wins again — Woodduck in Tulocay Creek by Rusty Cohn

Ahhh this inspires a confession. There are three half-truths I regularly tell about our beavers in Alhambra Creek. The first is that the folks at the meeting all spoke up for beavers. That’s not entirely true, because there were at least 5 ‘nays’ out of the 50 pro-beaver speakers in attendance that night. They were deliberately positioned at the beginning and end of public comment for maximum effect. And they were the definite minority. But they were there.

The second is that Alhambra Creek hadn’t seen mink in 25 years. I actually don’t have a source for that except I surely hadn’t seen it before. And I’ve lived downtown as an adult for 25 years. And it sounds about right. Although I’ve been saying it for a decade so that’s more like 35 years. Which puts us somewhere in the eighties was wasn’t really known for the greatest creek restoration. But, it conveys the idea that we saw different things when the beavers came. So I had retained it in the canon.

And the third almost-lie I repeat, was told to me by ward 7 manager for East Bay Regional Parks. He has since died but Ted Radke was a big beaver supporter and avid duck hunter – and he told me early on that after the beavers came we saw WOOD DUCK for the first time.

He said it to me at the celebration for the 75 anniversary of EBRP, and he insisted it was true. But I never saw one, before or since, and shortly after he said it hooded mergansers were seen for the first time in their full colors. And they’re striking ducks, so one can easily imagine he got them confused. But it’s a good story because wood duck is the ‘crowning glory of ducks’ and intimately tied to beaver ponds. So I’m inclined to repeat his story as if it were true.

But never mind, because once again NAPATOPIA has beaten us to the punch.

Great photo Rusty, Jon and I both laughed aloud when we saw it. Because we never doubted you’d be first!

Yesterday three bright and beautiful copies of MIT professor Penny Chisholm’s book on the water cycle arrived for the silent auction. She included a note thanking us for saving beavers! They are so brilliantly colored and so well told that they’re sure to be a hit with the parents and children there. Your very smart grandchildren might deserve a copy now, so go here to get your own. Thank you SO much for your help Dr. Chisholm.

Next came a present all the way from Rhode Island, where artist Carrie Wagner of Sepialepus donated a truly breathtaking and whimsical map of our golden state. I had originally seen her map of New York which included beavers, and asked her to think about donating. When she enthusiastically agreed she told me that she used to live in San Francisco and knew just where to add the beavers to her California map. Then she sent this, which is large, beautifully detailed and glorious. I’m including a closeup of the beavers so you can appreciate them fully.

Thank you SO much Carrie for this wonderful donation! I can’t wait to see how folks appreciate this at the festival!

Giving and Taking

heidi08 Beaver-themed merchandise March 5, 2017

They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. So what’s theft?

This is a quiz from the Scottish Beaver Trials page for kids. If you follow this link you can go see the crime for yourself. And no they did not ask to use our image. Even though we have been on friendly terms in the past. The beaver quiz is an example of a single instance of copyright theft on their web page. Here’s is four:

I wrote them that they need to ask before snagging, and waited a while to hear back, but it has been two weeks and I’ve heard nothing, so they are getting talked about. This is a very bad habit. I know I use these silhouettes a lot, but that’s because they’re so useful. Which means they’re of value and you shouldn’t take without asking.

best baby ever (1)small — *This and the silhouette made from it are the property of Worth A Dam. Ask before you steal.*

Our silhouettes were made by volunteer graphic art student Libby Corliss in 2009 out of photos taken by Cheryl Reynolds of our beavers in Martinez. To make a silhouette you have to carefully select a photo where the figure is distinct from the background. It took me hours to choose them, and it took Libby hours to make them. Not to mention it took Cheryl many hours sitting at the dam site to get the photo in the first place. Here is the photo on which this is based. And NO, Scotland, you can’t steal it too.

Hrmph!

Now on to some pleasanter things, because it is sunday, you know. This week the first donation was two sets of very beautiful note and holiday cards from Crane CreekGraphics in Wilson Wyoming. This was painted by artist and owner of the company, Wendy Morgan, who grew up and lives surrounded by nature. It’s a lovely glimpse of the beaver’s other, watery world.

They donated a set of notecards and a set of holiday cards with the beaver carrying a festive garland. Thanks Wendy for sharing your art with us!

Next on the list is the very engaging artwork of Indiana artist Ethan Burnsides Yazel. You will spot right away why I asked him for this print, but he delighted me more by including several others as well, including a raccoon stitching and a mouse gardening!

Go visit his shop on Etsy BursidesManor, for a collection that is intelligent, whimsical, sometimes grim. Always with rich color and detail. Thanks Ethan for your contribution to the beaver festival!

Finally, a tiny offering that came a long way. These charming drop earrings showing Mr. and Mrs. Beaver of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia were made by Jane E. Wells in Kent, England from her favorite childhood novel. Literally FROM the novel, as they come on a backing of the text as well. This blending of story, art, and jewelry conjures textured images from the past woven with a bright, inclusive future. Go see all her designs at her Etsy Shop Prairie Moon Crafts. And thank you Jane!

If you see anything that belongs in this silent auction beavery collection, let me know.

Sometimes a donation begins with a smile

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver Chewing, Beaver-themed merchandise, Creative Solutions, Festival, Friends of Martinez Beavers March 3, 2017

One of the best parts about being forced to beg for beaver delights in the silent auction is connecting with folks around the world whose hearts have been inexplicably touched by beavers. They created whatever they created because of this and they are delighted to meet another human in the world who’s worked for them too. They are inspired by our story, and I am reminded that good people exist in the world. It’s a perfect storm of goodness.

Case in point: MK Carving of Abbotsford British Columbia. He doesn’t even think he can donate because his pieces are usually custom made, but Mori Kono was so nice about beavers and supportive of our work he gets a mention. And you will understand RIGHT AWAY why I wrote. He calls this enchanting piece “Oops!”.

How much do you wish you could climb these stairs every night? Who ever he made this for must lead an enchanted life. Come to think of it, we might actually know them. Do you think it was Glynnis Hood or Michael Runtz? Or maybe some evil executive for the Hudson Bay Company? I imagined whoever it was named their stair guardian. Do you think they pat every night on their way to bed? I’m pretty sure I would. I wrote him that I had thought I was so clever because when I made the ‘manger’ for my beaver creche I had amused myself by adding a few chew marks. I couldn’t believe someone else had the same idea and executed it so delightfully!

Another recent connection came from Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles. They had donated to us many times over the years, but had recently stopped which I was very sad about. I’m still on their mailer and I got the notice that their very popular “Beaverstock” concert extravaganza which had grown so much over the years had received a ‘cease and desist letter’ from the attorneys of the real “Woodstock” and they were told to change the name OR be sued.

Lawyers are good at making petty indignation seem threatening so they were looking for a new name. Hmmm, I mulled over the dilemma for a few moments and then broke into a grin. I immediately wrote the owner that there was only ONE sensible solution.

Instead of BeaverSTOCK call the concert BeaverSTICK!

The owner wrote back last night much amused and suffice it to say we get our donation. Thanks Castoro Cellars!

Animal Spiritual on Sunday

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver Behavior, Beaver-themed merchandise, Beavers, Beavers and climate change, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? February 26, 2017

I wholeheartedly approve of this new policy enforcing only good beaver news on Sundays. And the universe seems to be catching on and publishing excellent article the night before. Check out this offereing from Larry Hyslop at the Elko Daily News and tell me this man didn’t get serious beaver education from Carol Evans over the years. Connie Lee from the Nevada Department of Wildlife just posted that she attended her first beaver conference and learned a lot. I’m sure Connie and Carol are friends too, and if they aren’t already, they will be soon.

Beaver engineers change streams

We know beavers engineer their environment by creating a dam and upstream pond. Researchers at Rocky Mountain National Park, along with the U.S. Geological Survey, found beavers can strongly affect the hydrologic processes of the Colorado River. They also found beavers produce greater changes to their environment downstream of their dams. Other research also suggests some major problems we see in modern day streams came about from beavers being removed from area streams.

Water flows over beaver dams along the full length of the dams, spreading water across entire valleys. Without these dams, water simply flows down narrow streambeds. This water stays spread out down the valley for hundreds of yards. Beaver dams also force water into the soil, where it moves laterally, toward the sides of the valley. The underground water table rises and widens the riparian area along the stream. More vegetation such as willows grow downstream from dams.
During peak flows, or floods, dams dissipate the flow energy. Water slows as it works its way through the intricate set of branches making up dams. Water also slows as it works its way back to the stream bed, generally flowing through riparian vegetation.

During the dry summers, dams keep water flowing. By holding back water behind the dam and placing more water underground, beaver dams slowly release water, keeping intermittent streams flowing longer and farther downstream. Beavers create wider riparian areas, with more riparian vegetation, and often create more areas for livestock to drink. During dry years, they may provide the only water for livestock.

The presence of beavers may have reduced or prevented headcuts in the past. Their absence may be responsible for today’s incised streams. Beavers are now returning to many streams and land managers are finding their dams and ponds can help heal headcuts. Sediments build up in beaver ponds, raising the streambed. Over time, dams are abandoned and other dams built, raising other areas along streams. Researchers are helping beavers return to streams in the hopes their presence will help streams heal.

Yes they are, Larry. And the very best help researchers can give them is to encourage folks to stop trapping that pesky rodent off their lands before they can get started fixing the system. Articles like yours help slow down that basic impulse that everyone seem to have. Thank you for this excellent review of beaver repairs in streams. It doesn’t even mention the benefits to fish, wildlife and nitrogen removal, but it has a compelling reason to tolerate beavers. I guess because water is what matters most in Nevada.

Another delightful bit of news that caught my eye this week was concerning a protest of HBC in Canada where Ivanka Trumps line of clothing is being offered after being tossed out of Nordstrom’s. Snicker.

Why ‘Peeved Beavers’ are upset by Ivanka Trump’s brand at the Bay

A member of the “Peeved Beavers” group, Amanda Spencer, holds up a sarcastic sign while she’s dressed up as Donald Trump.

Armed with distinctive blonde wigs, pursed lips and red power ties, a group of Ontario women are planning to dress up as U.S. President Donald Trump to protest the Hudson’s Bay Co. for carrying Ivanka Trump’s fashion line during two demonstrations in the Toronto area planned for Saturday.

The women call themselves the “Peeved Beavers,” and they have a bone to pick with HBC. St. Jean estimates that, since their secret Facebook group was created three or four weeks ago, it has grown to include approximately 30 members. Amanda Spencer, another Peeved Beaver, says they’re only expecting 10 to 15 members at the two planned protests on Saturday, so they can control the protest, and stay in character.

What an excellent name! The Peeved Beavers! Can I join? I usually have very little patience for the use of the beaver trademark name to describe the ladies, but I could get behind this. I just like the way it sounds!

Donations to our silent auction arrived all the way from Sydney Australia yesterday. Co-founder Kate McNab was enthusiastic in her generous support. The spirited shop Animalyser will offer beaver supporters a 10% discount on purchased items so go peruse the wonderful selection they have to chose from. Their unusual design placement is my favorite part of these striking products. Go look for yourself. Here’s their story:

We were encouraged by the enthusiasm and fun people had identifying themselves through two animals. We are both truly inspired by all animals and believe that humans are just another kind of animal.

The question ‘which two animals best describe you?’ started as a bit of fun by Kate McNab, Co-Founder, in 2012 at a dinner party. Some of our friends were able to answer the question immediately and others needed some time. That evening was the night when our blended names Mele (Elephant/Monkey) and Fanther (Falcon/ Panther) were created

What delightful dinner parties you throw! Can we come? Obviously in my case the answer would be a “Beaba“. Because I really liked the beavers and I Badgered city council until they let me keep them.

Thanks Kate!

Beaver-Flyer