Category: Beavers and salmon

Out of the mouths of babes…

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? September 10, 2015

LETTER: New role for Canada’s beavers in the conservation of water

Editor: At one time beavers were emblazoned on our currency, given to the queen as a gift and revered as a founding economy of our country. But today, beavers are considered a nuisance.

As a secondary school student in Walnut Grove, I studied and wrote an article about the beaver dam on Anderson Creek (Langley). From our own history, I could see the significant role of the beavers in forming and starting the nation.

Today, Canada is well represented by preserving many Aboriginal cultures and arts used in its tourism economy.

But will the beaver also be respected and preserved regarding its new role in the community?

The beaver dam on Anderson Creek could become a concern for the property owners living in the area if rising flooding interfered with roads and houses.

However, from the biologist’s perspective, beavers are actually conserving water to prepare themselves and the whole community to deal with the problems of hotter and drier weather.

As beavers work hard to make a new wetland and provide healthier environments in B.C. shouldn’t they be highly appreciated, especially, since not many people are conserving water?

Recently developed flow devices are also helping beavers become successful co-habitants with the community.

Therefore, shouldn’t we urge people to not only look at beavers as part of the past but also as a vital part of the future?

Seeone Kim,

Walnut Grove Secondary

How much do you love this letter? Smart ecology tailored to our own inescapable self-interests. I went hunting for Seeone online who is starting 11th grade this year at one of the biggest high schools in Vancouver. (One that looks rosy enough to make it into the Canadian Disney hit 16 Wishes). Obviously Seeone has much bigger goals than that heroine. I found the article about her project which was overlooked on this website by the strange coincidence of slipping into the black hole of festival week. You will want to go read it yourself, but here’s a highlight.

New neighbours help conserve water

As the City of Langley and the Township move to Stage 3 water restrictions during the hot and dry summer weather, one group of residents have successfully mastered the art of conserving water.

A newly constructed beaver dam on Anderson Creek in Surrey is helping maintain healthy water levels in local streams, creeks and rivers.

As a summer writing project, co-ordinated by English tutor Joan Gibson of Langley, two students from Walnut Grove Secondary School — Seeone Kim, Grade 11, and Cormick Campbell, Grade 9 — are studying and writing about the new dam construction and its effects on nearby habitat.

The beavers began building last January and today, have created a beautiful dam that spans the creek from bank to bank.

Stage 3 water restrictions. That sounds serious. We wouldn’t know anything about that her in CA right? I’m really starting to think water is going to be the unavoidable issue that helps people see beavers differently. In fact I spent a good part of yesterday on this 30 second PSA which I’m pretty happy with.

Welcome to the beaver defender club, Seeone. We’re thrilled to have you as a member!

In which In the Wall Street Journal commits plagiary. Again.

heidi08 Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, What's killing beavers now?, Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's saving beavers now? September 9, 2015

Merest coincidence? I’m thinking not. Google how many accusations there are of plagiary against the WSJ, the prominence Worth A Dam has in the recent New York Times articles and interview and the fact that you can’t swing a dead trapper without hitting one of our references on the internet – and I’m going to boldly accuse them of kidnapping. I suppose they could argue that the fact that they added a question mark slightly alters the meaning – thus protecting the use. But sheesh. When people steal from this website why don’t they steal the GOOD stuff?

British Beavers Gnaw Their Way Back, but Are They Worth a Dam?

Yet the Otter’s beavers are multiplying, and the mystery of how the rotund rodents came to Coleridge’s “wild streamlet of the West” has fanned the flames of a national beaver conflict.

That decadelong fight has pitted biodiversity advocates against anglers and landowners, leaving at least a dozen beavers dead and countless willow trees chewed.

Things are looking up for the beavers. Their population has grown to an estimated 212 in the U.K. wild.

And while the government last year decreed that the River Otter’s beavers should be removed, early this year it ruled they could stay, though it didn’t bar landowners from killing them.

431 73 A-hed British Beavers Gnaw Their Way Back, but Are They Worth a Dam? Gone for centuries, toothy rodent resurfaces in U.K. to love, hostility; ‘illegally released’ Mark Elliott of the Devon Wildlife Trust points out a tree along the River Otter chewed by beavers. The Trust says the U.K. has for centuries been ‘suffering from the loss of beaver activity.’ ENLARGE Mark Elliott of the Devon Wildlife Trust points out a tree along the River Otter chewed by beavers. The Trust says the U.K. has for centuries been ‘suffering from the loss of beaver activity.’ Photo: Justin Scheck By Justin Scheck Updated Sept. 7, 2015 8:13 p.m. ET 17 COMMENTS OTTERY ST. MARY, England—When beavers surfaced in the River Otter, Mark Owen smelled a rat. It had been centuries—probably before poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in this village in 1772—since wild beavers plied the region. In recent years, any local beavers were kept as curiosities or for research, living behind electric fences. Eurasian beaver Eurasian beaver “Nobody, as far as I know, has reported that they’ve lost beavers,” says Mr. Owen, freshwater director of England’s Angling Trust, a sportfishing-advocacy group that wants the rodents removed. His conclusion: “The beavers were illegally released.” U.K. law prohibits introduction into the wild of any animal that doesn’t already live there, even if it once did. Yet the Otter’s beavers are multiplying, and the mystery of how the rotund rodents came to Coleridge’s “wild streamlet of the West” has fanned the flames of a national beaver conflict. That decadelong fight has pitted biodiversity advocates against anglers and landowners, leaving at least a dozen beavers dead and countless willow trees chewed. Things are looking up for the beavers. Their population has grown to an estimated 212 in the U.K. wild. And while the government last year decreed that the River Otter’s beavers should be removed, early this year it ruled they could stay, though it didn’t bar landowners from killing them. Devon landowner John-Michael Kennaway holds a beaver pelt. ENLARGE Devon landowner John-Michael Kennaway holds a beaver pelt. Photo: Justin Scheck/The Wall Street JoURNAL — Devon landowner John-Michael Kennaway holds a beaver pelt. Photo: Justin Scheck

Beaver believers say the species could help restore England’s countryside to something like before medieval policies encouraged exterminating animals that competed with people for land or food. Advocates say beavers fell trees that choke streams and build dams that improve wetlands for fish and other animals.

Hardly, says angler advocate Mr. Owen. Beaver dams may block trout from spawning in streams like the River Otter, where fish already struggle with river otters, he says. And chewed trees are “a health-and-safety risk for anglers.”

Oh puleeze. The country shouldn’t have beavers because a tree might fall on my friends is not an argument any one older 12 should ever have. Here’s an idea. If WSJ is looking to steal something from this website why not steal the many papers quoted where it says that BEAVERS HELP SALMON AND TROUT. And the part where it says over and over that British anglers are big whiny babies who have their eyes and ears covered when it comes to the actual research and say “lalala don’t tell me I don’t want to hear it!”

Or you know. Do an ounce of research through your OWN WSJ archives and be reminded of that great article about the Land’s Council written a few years back. You know the one that by Joel Millman about how Ranchers are on a waiting list to get beavers on their property because they’re so important for water?

Just so you know. I plan of having new ideas every week. Make sure you keep checking the website to see if there are more useful things to steal.

The California Beaver Coalition

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Who's saving beavers now? September 4, 2015

Great news from our beaver friends! I love opening the paper to read an article about beaver advocacy that isn’t in Martinez. We just need 100’s more of these. It’s a big state.

Sherri Hasenfas — Sheri Hartstein Sierra Wildlife Coalition

Beaver population thriving at Lake Tahoe thanks to local volunteers

TAHOE-TRUCKEE, Calif. — Beavers at Lake Tahoe are faring better than they were just a few years ago, thanks to the efforts of Sherry Guzzi and her posse of volunteers, collectively known as the Sierra Wildlife Coalition.

As is the case with many people who become passionate defenders of wildlife, Sherry’s involvement began with the death of a beaver family that had become dear to her and countless other residents and visitors to Kings Beach during the fall of 2010.

This family of four beavers, two adults and two young, had built themselves a lodge in Griff Creek, which runs near Highway 267 in Kings Beach, before flowing beneath the road and into Lake Tahoe.

Obviously, we can’t allow homes, roads or businesses to be flooded so what is to be done? Sadly, in this instance, authorities decided to remove the lodge and kill the beavers.

Even more sadly, this particular dam did not threaten any structures, as the dam was only one foot high and any resulting overflow would have gone into the nearby culvert.

The killing of the beavers did not sit well with the humans who had become enamored with the animals from watching their daily activities.

Sherry, along with co-founder Mary Long, created the Sierra Wildlife Coalition with the purpose of serving as champions of wildlife, and particularly beavers.

Ooooh I love a good creation story! I remember the Griff creek beavers especially because Worth A Dam donated our first beaver management scholarship towards fixing the problem and our own Lory went to Tahoe to educate support. Ahh memories. Seems like yesterday.

sherryandted — Sherry and Ted Guzzi in their native habitat.

Go read the whole thing which ends with a touching poem by Mary’s daughter. SWC under Sherry’s leadership has done outstanding beaver work, with Ted installing flow devices, teams exhibiting and educating at events, and all making sure beaver decisions are made with the right information. Sherry just gave her first beaver presentation for the public at Taylor Creek the day before the beaver festival! It was extremely well received and she still managed to drive down and exhibit in Martinez the next morning. Now that’s dedication!

It’s not only in Tahoe where beaver friends are at work. Nearby in Napa they’re busy too.

‘Wild Napa’ lecture series to focus on beavers

The “Wild Napa” lecture series continues this month with a special presentation on beavers. Hosted by the Napa County Resource Conservation District, the event will be held next Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Covered will be the history and ecology of beavers and how they are helping urban and rural communities across the state to restore watersheds, recover endangered species, and increase climate change resiliency. Brock Doman and Kate Lundquist of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center will share their research to re-evaluate the historic range of beaver in California, and discuss how you can contribute to the Bring Back the Beaver campaign.

Optional guided tour of the active beaver dams on Napa Creek. To join this tour, meet behind the Firefighter’s Museum at 1201 Main St.

Following the tour, the talk will start at 7 p.m. at The Black and White Collective (enter through Napa Bookmine at 964 Pearl St.). Attendance is free and no registration is needed.

Napa is in for a treat. And Napa beavers should get ready to have their virtues extolled. I think Rusty and Robin will be there for sure. And Cheryl said she was planning to try and attend. It’s a great opportunity to spread the word and learn about beavers from the folks that are working closely with Fish and Wildlife to nudge our beaver policies forward. Just in case you can’t make it, here’s a nice introduction to Brock, who has a dynamic, biologic and stream oriented speaking style that you just can’t mistake.

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Trust us – We know best

heidi08 Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, City Reports, Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's saving beavers now? September 1, 2015

This piebald beaver can be found on occasion in the Putah Creek Nature Park in Winters, in a part of the park untouched by the ongoing restoration project. Alejandro Garcia Rojas/Courtesy photo

Creek project puts pressure on wildlife

As the Putah Creek Nature Park in Winters gears up to finish a decade-long restoration project, locals are voicing concerns over wildlife that call the last stretch of undeveloped land home.

In 2006, the City of Winters initiated a four-phase project to bring life back to the Putah Creek Nature Park. Since then, the project removed a damaged percolation dam and narrowed the channel along 7 out of 8 acres of the park. As the project moves into the final phase, however, locals are voicing concern over the last, untouched stretch of the park which is home to species of beaver and otter.

While this portion of the creek wasn’t visible before the new, wider pathway was put in during the earlier phases of the project, Hemenway says she’s worried that this final phase will drive away wildlife.

“We keep being told ‘(the beavers) will be back eventually.’ Well when is that?” Hemenway said, of the city’s response to her concerns.

“What we’re seeing now are unforeseen benefits from past phases of the project,” Brydolf said.

Beavers and otters weren’t found prior to the initial channel realignment phase that took place in 2011. Locals such as Caro and Brydolf were hoping the project would be reevaluated in light of the wildlife that have settled in the crook of the creek. Yet at the beginning of the month, they received notice that construction efforts would be pushed forward to the end of June, two months earlier than previously anticipated.

Winters is getting mighty uppity about their creek, and rightfully so. Not only do they have tons of new wildlife, they have a very rare beaver that is making waves from Colorado to Conneticut and beyond. People are beginning to understand that the “great plan” being implemented for Putah creek might not be all that great. I can’t think why. The city manager is obviously brilliant and very sensitive to the needs of wildlife.

City Manager Donlevy said a main reason for otters and beaver in the area is the improved fish populations.

Yes, it’s true, John. There’s nothing beavers like better after a hard day at the dam office than a nice fat trout. (I always suspected that herbivore nonsense was a smokescreen.) I’m sure you know best. It’s reassuring to realize how solidly you understand the needs of wildlife and creeks in undertaking a significant job like this. No wonder you can’t wait to finish. Sigh.

____________________________________________

It’s September and this new design was needed. This should hasten fall along, don’t you think?

Excellent Forum for ’em!

heidi08 Beaver News, Beaver-themed merchandise, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, City Reports, Who's saving beavers now? August 25, 2015

15th Annual Fish and Wildlife Committee Fall Forum

The CCCFWC is who gave the grant this year for our wildlife button activity (The K.E.Y.S.T.O.N.E. Project –Kids Explore! Youth Science Training on Natural Ecosystems). Because I’m never happier than when I think up a good acronym. We haven’t actually received the check yet, I had to send in receipts and a summary after the festival, but I’m sure it’s coming because they just invited me to do a poster session for their Fall Festival, to show off to fish and game and other folks how cool the event was.

It’s on a night I have to be at the office so I can’t attend, Cheryl says she’ll see if she can go. In the meantime I’ve been working on the poster and thought I’d share it with you. I’m attaching the summary too. I can’t decide between this and an actual 3D collage with our beaver tail and buttons, but I’m thinking an actual graphic that shows them all would be easier for them to manage.

A little bit about the day….

120 Children completed the tail activity, and 60 finished all buttons and the post test. 98% of completed tests show they learned how beavers help other species and parents verbally reported they had a wonderful time doing it. All exhibitors completed the post test too and reports were very positive, with 98% reporting they also learned something by doing it .

I’m attaching some photos of the children with their finished tails and taking the post test with their parents so you can see it was enjoyed!

Thank you again for your support of this wonderful day of learning!

Heidi Perryman, Ph.D.

President & Founder

Worth A Dam

www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress

The children’s post tests were my very favorite part of the day. I loved them standing thoughtfully and circling the right answers at my booth. Most of the exhibitors were also very positive about the activity, but one charmer actually wrote in a comment that we should provide the exhibitors water because it was hot that day. The feedback was anonymous which worked in their favor because otherwise it would have been too much to resist grabbing them by their lapels and saying, “Let me make sure I understand. So in addition to our organizing the event, paying for the insurance, the park, the restrooms, the music, the solar panel, the brochures, the advertising, and renting a U-haul to set everything up for you at 6 am this morning, you’d like us to bring you waters for you because you can’t plan possibly ahead?”.

Don’t worry. I left that part off the poster.