Category: Beavers and Frogs

Treasures we missed

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Urban beavers, Who's saving beavers now? January 5, 2016

This looking up ‘urban beavers’ thing is producing some amazing results. An awesome article on several beaver habitats in Dallas Texas, with what is quite possibly the best urban beaver photo I’ve ever seen. I’m a sucker for curved dams in the country or the city!

Beaver – Population Density

For this project we explored two stream beds for the purposes of observing and documenting evidence of Beaver activity. The small creeks we chose were located at opposite corners of an approximately six square mile rectangle of suburban North Texas.

Beaver sign was abundance and easy to find in these areas. The evidence we found included felled trees, dams, lodges, slides, and Beaver skeletal remains. We found a total of five dams in the areas we explored—four active and one that had been recently destroyed by people.

Isn’t that remarkable? Beaver dams all over Dallas just trying to save water for the poor folks in Texas. Apparently the author of this blog is a well known local naturalist and colleague of our beaver saving friends in the area, so I’m pretty excited to have more voices on our side. Let’s remember this site.

Next up is an UNBELIEVABLE article on urban beavers from Seattle. I was absolutely floored how delightfully relative this was and could NOT believe I had failed to remember writing about. Surely I couldn’t have missed it?

Then I noticed the date. About 4 months before my time.

Meadowbrook Pond: A beaver playground

Thursday, August 24, 2006

“This is the Disney World of beavers,” said Bob Spencer, creek steward coordinator for Seattle Public Utilities, as he looked out over Meadowbrook Pond in Northeast Seattle. Fuzzy mallard ducklings and great blue herons were playing second fiddle to the obvious star attractions: several of North America’s largest rodents entertaining an enthusiastic crowd of visitors.

“Beaver! Beaver! Beaver!” three kids shouted in unison to their dad who hurried over to watch a large furry brown head tote a leafy branch to the edge of the lodge.

“These hip, urban beavers have kind of gone condo,” Spencer said, pointing out their home, a jumble of materials ingeniously supported by the bridge turned wildlife viewing platform, which spans this detention pond. A large dent in the handrail shows where a broken alder located midway across the water fell under their sturdy front teeth.

Spencer has found that, like Ryer, even those with beavers in their backyards are excited to be living among them: “Seattleites regard having beavers back as a sign that something is getting better.”

Every single word could have been lifted from Martinez. Right down to the excited children and using the bridges as viewing platforms. I’m sure we’ll revisit this article again, but for now go read the entire thing and imagine it as a trailer for our own beaver movie that was coming soon.

One last treasure I could NOT believe finding were these promotional/educational tools from PBS. Theoretically released to coincide with the beaver documentary, but missed by me and countless others. I vaguely remember Jari talking about the plan for these, but I think they were delayed or something. When I shared them on facebook yesterday there were 25 immediate shares from beaver experts who had obviously missed them too.

So we know it isn’t just us. Whew.

Natures first green is Gold Medals

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beaver Chewing, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Dispersal, Educational, Environmental January 4, 2016

Maybe you remember the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Stephen Colbert sponsored a skating team and Lindsey Vonn became the first American woman to ever win the downhill Gold for a ski run that broke every record. Of course there was the usual Olympic Village built in an old industrial park which had once been a parking lot- it boasted wonders named FALSE CREEK and FALSE SEAWALL.

Well guess who’s back in False creek now?

Beaver resurfaces in Vancouver’s Olympic Village

A beaver, perhaps even two, have been spotted in Vancouver’s Olympic Village.
The iconic rodents have built a large dam in the man-made wetlands of False Creek.

“There’s two,” said Jeremy Murphy who lives in the area. “They hang out in the middle of the pond usually, back-to-back or cuddling a little bit, gnawing on everything they can find.”

It’s not the first time a beaver has called the area home. Two years ago, residents came across another beaver — possibly the same animal as the one seen recently.

A beaver was also seen in the summer of 2015.

I’m not so surprised that beavers are there. They really don’t care whether they’re living in a false creek with planted trees or an actual creek with generated trees. They’ll make do. Aside from the very foolish people trying to feed them bread, this story makes me smile. And lead me to something that made me smile VERY wide indeed.

An entire instagram page dedicated to URBAN BEAVERS.

Photos of lodges on city trails, beavers walking over concrete, I’m a kid in a candy store. Here is the one that terrified me though. Look to the far right front.
Well, we can’t know the fate of that brave little beaver, but I’m grateful that this Olympic beaver pointed me in his direction. I will definitely try to keep an eye on this now.

Sometimes the last few lines of a poem write everything else for you. I was happy to put this together yesterday. It started with the ‘how the west was watered’ line. And of course there’s only one word that rhymes with ‘watered’.

The beaver cheer that we hold dear

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? December 26, 2015

After Christmas cheer from the Hartford Courant in Connecticut.

**The beaver dam separates pond from forest. The dam is impressive, rising 5-6 feet over the surrounding forest. (Peter Marteka / hc)**

Haddam Land Trust Busy As A Beaver Seeking To Preserve Parcel

Cowan had invited people from around the area to attend a “Walk About The Pond” hike last weekend to showcase the parcel the trust has an option to purchase. In the email he called it an “incredibly important conservation parcel” with “exceptional qualities.” The property lies just to the north of the Route 82 connector between Route 9 and the Tylerville section of Haddam.

“Believe it or not, this was just a big, soggy meadow before the beavers came,” Cowan said.

But like the popular phrase, the beavers have been busy. And they haven’t been busy gnawing down all the trees. The brilliant animal engineers have created several dams out of mud, effectively blocking up the former meadow’s outlet stream beds. A 6-foot-high dam is at the northern end of the pond. There is also a series of smaller dams that block other outlets. Simply amazing.

“Beavers always seem to get a bad rap,” said one woman on the tour. I couldn’t have agreed more. The transformation of this low area in the middle of the woods to a pond filled with water lilies by North America’s largest rodent was an impressive engineering feat.

Ahh thank you Hadam Land Trust, and reporter Peter Marteka. There is nothing like some beaver appreciation to start the day off right. I love to read the joyful recognition at what a well placed series of dams can do. Even if Martinez doesn’t get any at the moment. Sniff.

How about some more beaver appreciation, this time from just outside Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Dog sledding, beaver habitats draws for visitors to Armstrong County trails

There have always been plenty of reasons for local folks and out-of-towners to visit the Armstrong Trail. But now, with an uptick in wildlife activity — and an offering of dog-sled rides — visitors have more of a reason to hit the trail.

ARTA supports and helps maintain about 30 miles of trail stretching from Rosston to East Brady.The volunteer organization recently gave permission allowing Allen Dunn of Rayburn to give dog-sled rides along the trail.

Recently, trail users have noticed a lot of evidence of beavers at work in the Madison Township area. On Tuesday, as rain dripped from bare branches and rushing water tumbled over rocks down a hillside, Owen stood near a section of trail between Rimer and Hook Station. Mist drifted through the valley and spilled over the Allegheny River.

Owen stooped to examine the trunk of a young birch tree that had been gnawed to a teetering point by the furry river-dwelling critters. More than a dozen chewed-up birch branches lay on the mossy ground near the river bank. The beaver dens were well-concealed and tucked out of sight far below the tree line near the water’s edge.

“We don’t consider them a nuisance,” Owen said. “They are a part of the natural world, and there’s no fear of them damming up the Allegheny.”

Ron Steffey agreed. He’s the director of the Allegheny Valley Land Trust, which owns the trail. “We’re the ones coming into their domain,” he said.

He joked that he trained the beavers to notch the trees so the trunks would fall toward the river rather than across the trail path. And he noted that because the beavers had thinned out the birch, young oaks growing in the area will have more of a chance to gain a foothold.

Wonderous. I would certainly be willing to take a sled dog ride to see beaver habitat in the snow. Wouldn’t you? And now we have evidence of positive regard for beavers from the state whose nickname happens to be “The Keystone State”. How appropriate!

Best beaver present yesterday came from Knob Creek Metal Arts in Kentucky. How’s this for a pair of book holders?

Finally a, proud photo snapped by Rusty yesterday at the Tulocay beaver pond which proves, once and for all, that Napa wins Christmas.

woodduck — **Wooduck in Tulocay pond: Rusty Cohn**

Coffee with Grey Owl

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers and Frogs, Who's saving beavers now? December 20, 2015

Add Kansas to the map of states that have now installed a flow device. I got a message this weekend from a Jamie Stewart concerned about a beaver in Coffee Creek Crossing – not the prison – the OTHER kind of gated community, on the furthest border of the state. It happens to have a stream that carries their storm water back to the creek. A enterprising young beaver had moved into the stream and was making a pond between two anxious home owners, obviously a disperser looking to make it on his own. Not only had the author of the email explained how good beavers were and talked the HOA into not trapping, but he worked with volunteers to wrap trees and install a castor master! So hurray for Jamie who got Kansas on the FD map!

Here’s a peaceful look at a Beaver pond in winter from a blogger in Michigan.

Bullfrogs and Beaver Ponds: A Spring Day in December

On December 13th, the temperature soared to a record-setting 62 degrees in Oakland County. Even though the sky was overcast and trails were muddy, that Sunday afternoon was perfect for a nature-embracing hike on the Wilder Side of Oakland County. With camera in hand, a compass in my day pack, and a spare pair of hiking boots in the car, I set off for the Ortonville State Recreation Area. The park is 5,400 acres of wildland managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that spans Genesee and Oakland Counties. That’s where this tale of bullfrogs and beaver ponds on a spring-like day in December takes root.

An hour into my trek I noted trees freshly cut by beavers. Evidence showed they were taking advantage of the warm weather to add to their winter cache. A few moments of skin-tearing bushwhacking through prickly ash brought me to the edge of a secluded beaver pond. I was about to focus my lens on the beaver lodge when a series of splashes near the shore drew my attention. I walked slowly to the water’s edge and sat on a fallen tree to see what was making the noise. Suddenly, I noticed a shape out of place on top of the massive, prehistoric-looking floating root of a yellow water lily. Bullfrogs were out! There they sat, partially draped in duckweed, sitting patiently, waiting for bugs and flies and other insects that will not come.

Now mind you there is no mention of how one creature is a valued ecological engineer who makes nature richer and one is an unwelcomed resource-draining pirate who makes it poorer, but I’m a sucker for anyone who walks into nature and appreciate what he sees. Credit where credit is due.

Nice writing and observation from Jonathan Schechter, reminding us all to take a winter hike soon.

Finally a beautiful fictional Christmas Day Address to the Children from the Gone but Not Forgotten Grey Owl. Enjoy!

This is not the address that I was not allowed to give on December 20, 1937 on a BBC Radio program called Children’s Hour. I will share that with you at another time. I thought I would compose an address that I would like to give now if that were at all possible. Perhaps you know a child you could read it to. Miigwetch.

Hello children I am Grey Owl and I have come to speak with you from the wild Northern Woods of Canada. To be more truthful I am the Spirit… the Manitouwabi of the man who came to be known as Grey Owl. When I was alive I believed that I had seen the worst of what people could do. And children, I have to confess to you that I myself treated my wild brothers and sisters in ways that I am not proud. I trapped animals for their fur that I myself had no use for. I paid no attention to either the rules of law or Nature in my pursuit of the money that this killing would bring me. I am deeply ashamed of these things children. Do you know who showed me the error of my ways? Can you guess who this great teacher was? It was Ahmik, yes it was my Beaver

There are still many people who believe that Nature belongs to Civilisation and people can do whatever suits their needs in pursuit of wealth. Children, this is wrong. Nature belongs to no one. In fact, we all belong to Nature. Just as my Beaver People showed me the truth, people need someone to help them see their mistake. I believe I know who this great teacher should be. It is you children. I believe you all still know in your hearts how wonderful The Wild is and that it needs to be taken care of. It is up to you to spread the word to all the adults. Tell them you want The Wild to be alive and well when you are grown up. Tell them that all of Your Wild Relations have the right to live a happy life in their wild home. Tell them to stop destroying them and their homes just to make more money. Can you do this?

I know you will be the heroes this world needs. Remember that I am there with you, on the wind, in the water and everywhere your Wild Relations call home. Good bye.

Ahh that was lovely, thank you Archie. We’ll not forget what you taught us.

It’s always darkest just before the dawn

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's saving beavers now? December 16, 2015

Things were looking might grim for the beavers of Tom’s River in New Jersey a couple days ago. Residents had taken all they could stand of the animals blocking the outflow of the lake, which meant creeping water lines into their gardens. Trapping season doesn’t start until the day after Christmas, and we all know how hard it is to wait until Christmas. They were chomping at the bit to get rid of the animals once and for all.

Toms River’s dam dilemma

Leave it to the beavers.

Township Engineer Robert Chankalian points out a clogged drain. Beavers are wreaking havoc for residents along Lake Placid Drive and Oak Glen Road by clogging the drainage systems along the lake between the two roads. Toms River, NJ Wednesday, November 18, 2015 @dhoodhood (Photo: Doug Hood/Staff Photographer)

The industrious, brown-furred rodents have been building dams in Lake Placid here, and some residents say that flooding caused by the busy beavers threatens their yards and homes. Beavers have become a big problem in this part of Toms River — so much so that it’s already cost Toms River some $75,000 to $80,000 to put in drainage facilities to dissuade the beavers, but the efforts aren’t working, said Business Administrator Paul Shives.

“For the past three years, the width of the stream has widened four to five times,” Lake Placid Drive resident Anthony Gural said at a recent Township Council meeting. “It’s approximately seven feet from my property.”

Come on, just 75,000 to 80,000 to dissuade the beavers? They are very hard to dissuade. Is that ALL you can manage lying about? In Martinez we said beavers cost the cities hundreds of thousands, $375,000 to be exact. We even got a gullible reporter from the LA Times to repeat it. I mean its just a made up number. Why not make a big one?

Regardless of how much the oddly named Tom’s River has spent valiantly hiring backhoes or throwing keg parties to discourage the beavers, it just hasn’t worked. Awww. Lucky for them New Jersey happens to be the home of the Unexpected Wildlife Refuge. So newly minted director Veronica Van hof called her many beaver friends to the plate. This morning she announced that Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions will consult for free. And Owen Brown of Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife will pitch in if he needs a helper.

Their local Patch reports:

Beavers Vexing Toms River Resident

An animal group that operates a sanctuary was meeting informally with township officials on Monday in an attempt to convince officials not to kill the animals.

“More humane, compassionate and ethical methods of discouraging beavers from damming waterways and causing flooding exist. In the long run, these preferred methods are more successful and actually save money,” a member of the group Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, which takes particular interest in beavers.

I’d say they take a particular interest in beavers. The refuge was started by Hope Buyukmihci and her husband, with a special dedication to the animals. Here’s a favorite photo of Hope that should make her feelings fairly clear.

I would caution that the battle isn’t over yet, I mean just because the solution is offered there’s no telling if it will be accepted. And the rights of property owners versus the rights of beavers is never a fair fight. But I’m hopeful with all these good players involved there’s at least a chance for a Happy New Year.

In the mean time there was a LOVELY look at beavers on Wild Canada the other day, which I think I can share with you for a while. And before you say to yourself, beavers hrmph, who needs to see more of them, let me tell you that the beautiful documentary contains a NEVER BEFORE SEEN DISCOVERY of muskrat behavior in the beaver lodge. You will NOT believe it. The whole thing is excellent and the clip starts with great wolverine footage, which is pretty rare too. I’d watch it all the way through when you have time before it ceases to be available.