Category: Beavers and Forests

Beaver Show and Tail

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver Behavior, Beaver Conference, Beavers, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and Ice, Beavers and Insects, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Who's saving beavers now? February 2, 2017

There is too much beaver news this morning. I feel like I’m struggling under a pile of important papers trying to get out. I will use the calendar as my only excavation tool, and start with what’s happening first. The other things can wait. Except for the serious cause for mocking, which obviously cannot be ignored.

Beaver Tales Art Exhibit: A Celebration of Beaver Art

2017 Beaver Tales Art Exhibit and Sale

The Wetlands Conservancy and partners invite you to see nearly 100 artists at six different venues throughout 2017. These shows will highlight the Beaver, our natural ally in conserving Oregon’s wetlands and restoring natural systems.

Beavers, though woefully misunderstood actually create and sustain wetlands that aid in resuscitating our riparian stream habitats. They play a central role in shaping our future as we prepare for the transformations that a warming and changing climate may bring. The Wetlands Conservancy is launching a statewide beaver conservation vision. Our goal is to learn more about how we can work with beaver to conserve and restore natural systems.

Join us on the dates and at the venues shown below to celebrate the beaver and understand the role and benefits wetlands play in Oregon and your community.

The show kicks off with a reading by Frances Backhouse of her great book, “Once they were hats” and then starts the exhibit with a month long display at Oregon State University before beginning a tour around the state. It is organized by the good folks who had me speak last year at their Wetlands event in Portland. I tried introducing the organizer (Sara Vickerman) to our beaver artist heroine with the Gallery in Concord (FRO Butler) but transportation was too difficult to figure out.

I do know there is one important kind of artwork that will be sorely absent in this show. Dam foolish oversight if you ask me.

From the sublime to the ridiculous. Here’s a grandpa in North Carolina who wonders if beavers are safe to be around children. No, seriously. Press the arrow at the bottom right to view larger.

Beaver invasion has Greensboro neighbors concerned

GREENSBORO, N.C. — When Steve Brown heard that beavers were living in a nearby creek, he couldn’t wait to show his grandkids.

“Beavers had come into the creek by the children’s playground and had built two dams. My first thought was that’s cool I’ll go and check it out and watch them,” Brown said. Then he had second thoughts.

“I got to thinking, it’s right next to the playground. Are beavers safe? Are they dangerous, especially around kids?”

An old snark like me would be tempted to say that his problem happened when he “started thinking“. Some people just shouldn’t be allowed to do that. But I will just post this instead so folks can see for themselves how dangerous beavers are around children.

North American Beaver Castor canadensis Children watching beaver in urban environment Martinez, CA *Model release available - #Martinezbeavers_1.2 — North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Children watching beaver in urban environment
Martinez, CA
*Model release available – #Martinezbeavers_1.2

Listen to your Elders

heidi08 Beaver Rehabilitation, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and climate change, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and Ice, Beavers and Insects, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? February 1, 2017

I was surprised to come across this yesterday in my search for donations. I hadn’t seen this site before and knew nothing about it, which is rare for beaver news so close to home. Thinking about the Tuleyome website from yesterday, I suspect similarities. The two names aren’t actually linked anywhere I can find, but their location is, and the websites are very similar. Either they have the same technician or they are staffed by a handful of similar people.

Either way, I like them.

The Elder Creek Oak Woodland Preserve is a private preserve soon to be protected by conservation easement that encompasses 233 acres of primarily steep hills of blue oak woodland containing dozens of old-growth manzanitas. This preserve is located in the Elder Creek Watershed, which covers about 150 square miles and ranges in elevation from over 8000 feet to about 250 feet above sea level. Over 72 miles of streams and creeks make up the watershed, making it one of the longer ones on the west side of the northern Sacramento Valley

What we do to encourage beavers on Elder Creek:

• Never kill beavers and encourage others to join us in protecting them.
• Regularly comment to California Fish and Wildlife to prioritize restoration of beaver populations.
• Build small, beaver-like check dams and baffles in the creek in mid- to late spring (depending on flow).
• Leave cottonwood and willow along the creek, occasionally removing dead wood and coppicing some of the willow.

Imagine stumbling across a website like this by accident! I can assure you it made my afternoon.

According to Westbrook, 85 percent of all watercourses in the United States — and a comparable, though unquantified, percentage in Canada — are headwater streams and, therefore, small enough to be dammed by beavers. This continent-wide network of fine blue lines represents a wealth of potential beaver habitat. “We’re talking about beaver in nearly every headwater stream across North America prior to European colonization,” says Westbrook. (from Canadian Geographic)

Beaver streams resulted in:

Reduced stream sedimentation and erosion
Stream temperature moderation
Higher dissolved oxygen levels
Overall improved water quality
Increased natural water storage capabilities within watersheds, including recharge of ground water aquifers
Reduced stream velocities, which means a decreased number of extreme floods
Removal of many pollutants from surface and ground water
Drought protection through increased year-round stream flow
Improved food/habitat for fish and other animals, including 43% (according to one source) of the endangered species that the US Department of Fish and Wildlife is mandated to protect

All these benefits from one little rodent! (Or several million, actually) Beavers are proudly promoted by our new BFF’s at Elder Creek Preserve. Thank you for doing this important work sharing the beaver gospel. Let’s hope is saturates Woodland and begins to sink into Sacramento. (And I mean both the region and the governing bodies it houses.)

On monday we were contacted by a beaver supporter who wanted to donate her grand mother’s old beaver fur coat for us to use in education or rehab. Certainly it’s nothing we have ever considered for ourselves. I have always mocked a very widely used and un-admirable activity folks practice in schools of allowing one student to ‘dress up like a beaver, with a fur coat, goggles and flippers’ to teach them about their adaptions. We would never do that as it seems way more stunt-y than teach-y. And why not teach kids the amazing things about beavers while you have their attention?

But it occurred to me maybe we could teach about the fur trade and the toll it extracted on our streams and wildlife? We never really tried to do that kind of education at a festival, but why not? And maybe while we’re at it teach the martinez story and our creek response with series of display panels folks can look at their own pace. I have been working on a graphic we could use for a poster with the display. I will say, that Jon and I were both very surprised how soft the coat was. I always imagined beaver as more wiry. And you can definitely see how protective and thick it is. You can’t even see where the individual hairs separate. It also occurred to me that orphan beavers in rehab might like to snuggle up to beaver fur, so I’ve asked our beaver rehabber friend if that’s true and we will consider donating it to Sonoma where they do most of the beaver rehab work.

We like fur coats best of course ON the beaver, but it might be okay to put it to good use now.

Woodland Wilds and Wonders

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers and climate change, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and Ice, Beavers and Insects, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? January 31, 2017

I am tempted to tease the headline of this article as winning the prize for the single most consonance B’s ever in a beaver story, or mention that Capybara aren’t from Australia, but it’s a dam good article from a region where we have been short beaver support in the past. And authors don’t always get to pick the titles, and the paper is in Davis of all places. So I’ll politely refrain and just celebrate a wonderful article from our new best friend.

Tuleyome Tales: Big, burly beavers can be a boon

By Mary K. Hanson

Although some people consider them a pest species that causes temporary flooding of areas adjacent area to their home, the ever-active North American beavers (Castor canadensis) have actually been proved over and over again to be a boon to humankind in many ways.

In the past two or three years, projects and studies have been conducted throughout several Western states that conclusively prove that the beavers are actually 80 percent more effective (and less costly) at repairing and improving degraded stream systems than humans. And part of the reason for that is because the beavers instinctively know where the best places are to build their dams and lodges.

Beavers don’t kill the trees they harvest. Rather, they cut the trees down with their sharp incisor teeth to just above ground-level, leaving the root system entirely intact. In wildlife habitat restoration and management done by humans, this exact same process is call “coppicing.” The majority of coppiced trees don’t die; they instead grow new healthier shoots from the severed stump, providing for long-term regrowth and reforestation.

This is part of the reason why beavers are considered to be a “keystone species” in the environment: Their creation of new growth and water pathways and ponds actually increases the biodiversity in the areas in which they live.

What a great start! (Although I’m confused about the ‘past two or three years’ and think it’s been more like 2-3 decade.) But still. The article refers to Ms. Hanson as a ‘certified naturalist’ which I believe must mean that she completed the UCB program that our volunteers Deidre and Leslie did. Where means she studied with beaver guru Brock Dolman, which means she got an and unmitigated earful about the good work that Beavers do for us. Thank goodness. I love the idea of this article being printed in a paper from a region that depredates the second highest number of beavers in the state!

Studies have proved that where beaver dams are allowed to exist naturally, waterfowl and fish populations increase and become healthier and more diverse. In Washington state, for example, studies proved that beavers — which do not eat fish — were a benefit to local trout and salmon populations, increasing smolt production from about 15 individuals per range to 1,170 fish.

A similar effect on waterfowl diversity was seen in Wyoming, where it was shown that waterways where beavers were present resulted in a 75-percent increase in the number and diversity of ducks.

Other benefits afforded by beavers and their construction sites include:

* An increase in the variety of vegetation that enhances bird habitat;

* The removal of toxins from local waterways by filtering out sediments, phosphates and heavy nitrogen concentrations;

* A reduction in soil erosion, which can decrease flood dangers for people in surrounding areas;

* Helping to re-establish and increase riparian habitat, which also aids in the interception of runoff, increasing soil nutrients and providing habitat for a wide variety of plants and trees. Increased plant life has the added benefit of improving air quality as trees and plants naturally remove toxin form the air; and

* Because the dams slow down the flow of water near them they help to recharged spent aquifers (raising the level of water stored underground for use during drought conditions).

Be still my heart! Ms. Hanson is a friend of ours even if we never met! I’m thinking the nonprofit she works with (TULEYOME) might want to come to the beaver festival! They have a shiny new website and obviously have lots to share. I think they’d enjoy themselves at the festival, don’t you?

Beaver Fan Club still has Openings

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers, Beavers and climate change, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and Ice, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental, featured, Who's saving beavers now? January 19, 2017

Ooh how nice to see the upcoming beaver conference get some positive press! I hope that gets many more curious people in the door.

Seven Feathers to host conference on beaver restoration

CANYONVILLE — Oregon’s official state animal, the beaver, plays an important role in the state’s wetland ecosystems. Those advocating for the beaver plan to convene next month for a series of presentations focusing on beaver ecology as a crucial part of threatened species recovery.

The fifth State of the Beaver Conference, slated for Feb. 22-24 at the Seven Feathers Convention Center in Canyonville, is meant “to provide an international venue for academia, agency and stakeholders together to disseminate information pertinent to beaver ecology,” according to Leonard Houston, conference coordinator and co-chair of the Beaver Advocacy Committee (BAC) of the South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership.

“We chose the theme of ‘agents of regeneration’ largely to highlight the role that beavers play both in natural regeneration, which is ecological succession, and designed regeneration, which is restoration ecology,” Houston said.

The nicest part about this conference, and there are many, is that the famous names you have been reading about for years here or elsewhere are walking or sitting right next to you. Or coming up to say ‘hi’ and ask

about your presentation. The truth is that it is both a blessing and unfortunate that the science of beaver ecology isn’t yet so advanced that names like Woodruff, Obrien or Pollock can send

their undergrads to do the presenting for them and report back if they find anything interesting. As renowned as they are, they have to do their reporting in person and are eager to share ideas and learn from each other. They’re even happy to hear what you have to say.

Admittedly,they are probably even happier if you invite them out for a beer to say it. (And happier still if you offer to pay for it. Government salaries being what they are.)

santa barbara dinner — Michael Pollock, Mary Obrien, Sherri Guzzi, Mike Callahan and Me!

The point is, I think this is a golden moment in time where beaver science hasn’t become dominated and controlled by lofty minds and big research institutions. You can contribute, you can interact. They need you! But already the world is starting to shift. More and more folk are interested in taking charge of the beaver meme, and it won’t be easy and collegial forever.

Beavers are getting so famous, you better come this year. Just to be on the safe side.

Christmas for Beavers

heidi08 Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and Ice, Beavers and Insects, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas! The present I got you is one-of-a-kind and really hard to find. It’s a nice article from a property-owner who enjoys the beavers in his pond and is having fun watching them. No need to thank me. The look on your face is thanks enough.

A crash course in beaver denizenery

When three beavers in our Back 50 pond whacked their tales – in unison, no less – I was smitten.

***Beavers on the pond: When three beavers in Denis Grignon’s Back 50 pond whacked their tales – in unison, no less – he was smitten***

From my lawn chair on shore, they’re always entertaining. Industrious. Patient. Determined. Funny.

Hey, the internet is spotty in our parts and this is 4D TV – without the cumbersome pick-and-pay contract.

My recent fascination with them coincided with what would become our worst drought in decades. Our pond’s about the length of a football field – the larger Canadian field, fittingly, given its inhabitants, eh.

As the water level dropped drastically, it resembled a large puddle dotted with what appeared to be about a dozen beaver lodges. But were there really more lodges than in previous years? Or had the receding water simply made them more visible?

Ahh, Denis! I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read about someone actually watching beavers instead of just trapping them because they’re a nuisance. He’s located in Peterborough, across Lake Ontario from New York. Maybe he has benefited from our friends in the area? I myself started watching beavers a million years ago because they were ‘cool’ to watch and I was curious about them. It opened the door for learning and helped me be forever hooked.

Seems Denis is watching them during a drought year, while the pond shrinks. This makes several other lodges visible that he hadn’t noticed before. He wonders whether more beavers move into a pond in drought and whether there will be competition.What he doesn’t realize, is that beavers don’t ‘go’ where there’s water, they more or less make water wherever they ‘go’. Beaver ponds in drought contained 9 times more water than equivalent ponds without beaver according to Dr. Glynnis Hood’s Alberta research. For the most part, the strange thing is he asks people who tell him the right answer. Go figure.

“You probably already know that beavers are territorial,” Lisa Soloman, a management biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), told me.

Uh, no. I didn’t. But go on, I pleaded.

“All beavers in a pond are related,” she continued, explaining that a pair will breed, keep their three to five “kits” nearby for about two years, then send them off to university or to teach English overseas.

So my pond is not overcrowded. And those additional lodges I thought I saw are, according a friend and hunter, merely failed construction attempts.

Is there anything, then, I can do to ensure a second season of my backyard reality TV?

“I would say nothing!” says Soloman. “This is how nature works. If the conditions aren’t good for them, they may not survive or they may disperse…But if it’s good habitat, new beavers can move in and claim the unoccupied territory.”

Wow, not only is Denis enjoying them now, he wants them to stay next year. I appreciate Lisa Solomon’s mostly accurate advice. But I disagree with one part. ‘Nature’ is no longer the thing that decides whether beavers will stick around or not. Human interest is. And if you’re happy to have those little flat-tails as your neighbors I would say the odds of them sticking around are very, very good.

You might also plant a little willow from cuttings around the pond’s edge. Good for the pond anyway and the beavers will help keep it thriving. Happy watching!

Speaking of beaver lodges, I thought this was a great photo of the one Suzi Eszterhas took in Napatopia. How’s that for ‘Nature in the City’? Happy Christmas!