Category: Beavers elsewhere

RED BUTTE CANYON WANTS BEAVERS

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? June 7, 2018

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the one that has loved you so true

Back in 1982 all the beavers in Red Butte Canyon were killed because officials said they caused ‘beaver fever’ in the drinking water. There were folks at the time who argued that this was a silly thing to do because any animal including the human ones can cause giardia, and beavers were actually maintaining the riparian and helping the wildlife they were studying in the ‘study area’, but nevertheless they persisted and got rid of all those dam beavers.

Now a smart woman wants to bring them back.

More than 30 years ago, all of Red Butte Canyon’s beavers were killed. Some Utah professors say now is the time to bring them back.

Now some U. biology faculty members led by Pat Shea, a Salt Lake City attorney, hope to re-establish beavers to restore natural processes and conduct research into how the environment would respond to new beaver dams that slow the passage of water and create wetlands.

A former head of the Bureau of Land Management in the Clinton administration, Shea holds an associate research professor appointment with the U. biology department and teaches a course about the canyon titled The Biography of an Urban Stream.

“Interestingly, here they have seen over 250 species of birds because subtropical migratory pathways go through the mountains,” Shea said. “If the little birds are out in the open in the valleys, the raptors come and get them, whereas here they can fly in and out, and there are water holes.”

Whatever risks arise from the beavers’ return would be outweighed by the restoration benefits and research opportunities, Shea contends.

“After the colonel killed all the beavers, the flora populations dropped from from 552 to 500 plant species because the riparian areas all but disappeared,” he said. “I am interested in seeing the progression of what native riparian plants do when [beavers] are reintroduced.

Something tells me Pat and I would be friends for life – a sensible woman who understands the good that beavers can do for urban streams. I can already predict we have some colleagues in common.

“Beavers do all this stuff for free. There are certain places where they can do good, but it’s complicated. It’s tricky to get them to stick,” said Wheaton, a beaver expert who has consulted on the Red Butte project.

Today, monitoring equipment, solar panels, bird nets and cameras occupy the canyon as part of long-term research into its hydrology and wildlife. Would the sudden reappearance of beaver dams disrupt this data gathering? The beaver proposal gives some researchers pause.

Hi Joe! We were just talking about you! (Hey I sure hope your sister and her children are planning to come to the next beaver festival!)

A lone beaver has been observed in Red Butte Reservoir, pictured here on April 26, a mile east of the University of Utah in the Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area,

“Perhaps there is an appropriate place for beaver in upstream areas. We need to have a holistic conversation about it,” Bowen said. “If we are already seeing them in the canyon, is there a benefit of intervening at this level?”

Yes yes yes, you folks just talk amongst yourselves, don’t worry about me. I’m just going to move right in under your noses and get down to work.

Looking at the line of that beaver in the photo, whose bottom floats up nearly as high as his head, I would guess that’s a dispersing yearling, checking out new territory and thinking where to put the ottoman.

It is usually the height of folly to think that we can decide where beavers should return and where they shouldn’t. They have their own plans and will usually find a way to get there themselves, But it’s always to good to have people talking about their benefits and making a welcoming committee for when they show up.

I have every faith in the great beaver minds of Utah, one way or the other they’ll figure this out.

PATHS THAT CROSS

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? June 6, 2018

I can mark my development as an observing human by two important radio experiences. The first was a relatively short-lived station beginning in 1981 called KTIM “1510 the big band blend”. I have zero idea how I started listening to it as a sophmore in highschool. I was in jazz band at the time, so maybe that made me curious. I suppose maybe it was a way to “listen to my parents” without – you know – actually listening to my parents. But what ever the reason, listening to the collection of big band rhythms, salient lyrics, and forgotten treasures from the 30’s and 40’s changed me forever. It gave me a sense of history, of the history of creativity, (and ultimately became the musical scores I would need for my beaver films 30 years later.)

For most of my life I have surprised people by my familiarity with that music. (Including the job interview where the wise-ass boss sang “Hi-di Heidi Ho” and I got the job by quickly answering “Cab Calloway 1934“,)

Fast forward to the graduate years. The second radio program that changed and shaped my life, (and probably many of yours too) was Forum with Michael Krasny on KQED. A literature professor from SF state, he is extremely well-read and thoughtfully spoken. Since 1993 he has hosted a talk show interviewing the important authors, thinkers and movements of the day. The station recently celebrated his 30th year. On my many long drives to internships I would listen attentively and feel my world getting exponentially larger. Jon used to joke about my getting home excitedly talking about what I learned, starting conversations with “did you know there was a shortage of bees?” Or “did you know that Salman Rushdie was born in India?”or similar observations that had surprised me.

This year when I read a copy of Ben Goldfarb’s beaver book I immediately thought BEAVERS ON FORUM!!! There must be BEAVERS ON FORUM!!! Even though the station they had always resisted the flashy Martinez beaver story in the past. I attempted to send my most persuasive letter to his producers. Citing how important beavers were to California because of drought, and salmon, and climate change. I heard nothing in return so I of course despaired.

Well, yesterday I heard from one of those producers saying they needed another copy of the book and were interested in doing a segment on beavers. !!! Stay tuned because very soon the benefits of the animal we know so well might just be coming soon to a radio station near you.

Take a moment to live the synergy.

‘

THEY’RE JUST TROLLING ME, NOW

heidi08 Who's blaming beavers now? June 4, 2018

After reading about Skip lisle and Patti Smith and so many folks in Vermont who care about the good works that beavers do, you start to think that maybe folks in the Green Mountain state are just smarter about beavers overall. Maybe they’re better than the rest of us and have fixed all their ignorance and intolerance.

HA!

Letter: A simple proposal to restore rivers

I grew up in Pawlet. I grew up fishing the Mettowee, the Otter Creek, the Poultney, the Castleton, and the Battenkill rivers. A lot has changed in those rivers since I was a kid. The fishing has declined drastically! I’ve heard of a few plans that the state is thinking about doing to change things around. I think that the plans that I have heard are a waste of time and money.

I have a few suggestions. First thing we need to look at is, what were the rivers like and what were the fishing regulations back when the fishing was good? Well, in the ’70s, there was a length limit of 6 inches for trout. Back when the fishing was good, there were common suckers, horned dace, shiners, and creek chubs in the rivers. There are none of these in the rivers now! What are the fish supposed to feed on?

Back when fishing was good, there weren’t many (if any) beaver dams. Now the rivers are backed up with them to the point that there is so much silt on the bottom that the fish can’t spawn or you can’t walk through it! The two rivers that are the worst for beaver dams are the Otter Creek and the Battenkill River. If you go north on the Battenkill, above Dufresne’s Pond the problem begins. It is the worst from Toll Gate road to route 7A. It is one dam backed up to another dam, to another dam, to another dam all the way to route 7A. The last time I fished that stretch of the river, I was in 10 inches of water and 3 feet of silt. Back when fishing was good, I used to fish that stretch. It was clay bottom and the fish were plentiful and I mean big fish (20-plus inches) and plenty of them!!! The Otter Creek south of the Mount Tabor road is the same as the upper part of the Battenkill. Beaver dam backed up to beaver dam.

See when I said “back when the fishing was good” I meant when I was a kid. In the 1970’s. There were a lot more fish then. I’m assuming that was the beginning of history because it’s where I started. (I have zero idea of what it was like in the 1870’s or the 1670’s because I’ve never opened a book in my life.) But I assume that since there were more fish and zero beaver when I was a kid (A) must have caused (B) and I have a solution! Wait until you hear my clever plan.

This is my thought. It would be the cheapest fix for the state. Start at the lowest beaver dam in any river (not just the rivers I mentioned). Tear that dam out (I’m talking from one side of the river to the other side! No part of the dam is left). Let the water level lower and the silt wash away down stream. Move up the river to the next dam and do the same. Keep doing this until there are no more dams in the river. I know, people are going to complain about the silt in the river. There’s two fixes for that. Either clean the silt out with machines or leave it. The following spring, when the snow melts and the rivers start to run deep and fast, it will clear out the silt. Let the rivers get clean again. Back to pebble or sand bottoms.

Am I on candid camera? Is this a joke? Is the writer of this letter Paul Ryan who thinks we can eliminate poverty by getting rid of food stamps? Sure Dan Wood of Hampton New York. Rip out all the dams. Kill all the beavers. I’m sure that those crazy folks at NOAA and Trout unlimited got it all wrong. Never mind the fish that would drown in silt from all the excavation, perish of drought in the summer and freeze in the winter without deeper pools. I’m sure you’re right.

It gets better.

Thirdly, we have invasive species that need to be taken care of, cormorants and mergansers. They were never around when fishing was good. They are an invasive species. They do not belong. Get rid of them!

If we do these things, I can see the rivers making a huge comeback within three to five years.

I can’t even….

I’m sure the editor published this letter to let his opinions look foolish. Surely there are plenty of folks that remember fishing was always better near a beaver pond. Right? Let’s ask the folks at Fishbio. I’m sure they have some thoughts about this.

Make sure you read the subtitles!

Film Friday: Busy Beavers of the Tuolumne River

Beavers are considered “ecosystem engineers”: their busy dam building activities in rivers can slow water down and create important habitat for salmon and other fishes. Our Vaki Riverwatcher automated fish counters also regularly document beavers swimming by – so we decided to make a film about their activities! This film was also featured in the 2^nd Annual Tuolumne River Film and Culture Festival in Atherton, California. Learn more about the relationship between beavers and salmon, and enjoy today’s Film Friday!

BEAVER DICKS AND BEAVER TREASURES

heidi08 Who's Killing Beavers Now? June 2, 2018

We may have won the beaver battle in Martinez, but the war rages on. Recently the killing fields of Canada have been complaining vociferously about beavers . In fact the NWT is offering a 100 dollar reward for killing just one. That’s sure a lot of Canadian nickles.

‘Beavers all over’: N.W.T. communities place $100 bounty on Canada’s national animal

A $100 bounty has been placed on beavers in northern Northwest Territories to reduce the population of the industrious but sometimes troublesome rodents. Beaver-related complaints from various communities in the Mackenzie Delta have increased, primarily about beaver dams and lodges blocking fish-bearing creeks, flooding traditional travel routes, and destroying and disrupting habitat along the waterways of the Delta.

“They’re building their dams and we can’t fish at this lake anymore or that lake — beavers all over,” said Michelle Gruben with the Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee. “Our hunters and trappers have been saying for a few years that beavers are a problem, we’re seeing more and more of them.”

A bounty was first tried last year but hunters and trappers complained the $50 a head didn’t make it worthwhile to cover the cost of gas to go out on the land and the hard work skinning a beaver, which is an awkward animal to skin. The bounty was boosted to $100 this year.

Hunters and trappers must turn in evidence of each kill — the skull, castor sacs and baculum (the penis bone) if it is a male.They also must show an official the stretched beaver hide or packed meat as evidence the animal is being used.

The penis bone? Seriously? The penis bone? What’s the matter? Couldn’t you think of any manlier way to encourage beaver slaughter? The penis bone?

The skull and the castor sacs really isn’t enough. You need the penis too. Those damn male beavers, having all those baby beavers. (?) Plus it’s fun for the kids. You never know what you’re going to get until you open it up!

With the ice clearing, at least 100 beavers were killed and claimed in Aklavik last week, officials said. The program is funded by the territory’s department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Until June 1o there is no limit on the number of beavers you can kill. At 100 dollar a head -er dick- that can add up. Thank goodness the entire program is being paid for by the department of the ENVIRONMENT and NATURAL RESOURCES.

Because nothing says “protecting the environment” like killing beavers.

Okay, I know we all need to take a shower and clear our heads after that horrible article. So I have just the thing. Two mornings ago Rusty Cohn of Napa happened to catch a beaver work section more wonderful than anything we’ve ever seen in Martinez. Two beavers working like gangbusters, fixing their dam with STONES.

Beaver paw stretched to hold stone: Rusty Cohn

Thank you Rusty for capturing this awesome moment and sharing it with us! I’ve seen beavers carry mud and kits in just that way, holding the bounty above their paws and under their chins, but outside of documentaries I had never really seen this happen with stones. Of course you realize you have been beaver blessed now don’t you? You have to keep watch over them forever.

Good for us!

BEAVER FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? May 22, 2018

Don’t you just love firemen? With the exception of the Rodney King riots they have been almost always celebrated as heroes when they arrive. Certainly they were greeted with free meals and beers during the Napa fires. I had a delightful young patient once who stuck a metal nut on her ring-finger once and fancied herself engaged. She came to session the next day with her entire hand swollen and we called the local fire department. Five kindly men came to cut her free and she comforted her 7 year old self by calling them all charmingly “my boys!” as they rescued her from the tight band.

Jon himself will recognize this moment from getting his head stuck in the banister on the stairs as a boy. Last night in Idaho they just got to do something even more fun.

Eagle firefighters rescue beaver in bind, latest of several unusual rescues in Valley

I’m not sure why it is that we all – beavers included – tell ourselves that if we can just get our heads through the gap we will be home free. Unless we happen to be hammerhead sharks it is almost never ever true. I’m glad they were on hand to help him wriggle out. Thank goodness some kind soul called them to the scene.

Speaking of watching out for beavers, our good friend Rusty Cohn of Napa has been back on the scene, this time watching a family of beavers fittingly enough behind the firefighters museum. Apparently the first thing dad does every night is check the dam. (In Lily Pond Hope Ryden loving called this beaver the “Inspector General”) Of course the nice thing about beavers is that they always show up with their usual ‘groupies’.

Wonderful photos! Check out the size of that tail, because that beaver has survived a good many summers!

Meanwhile our good friend Susan noticed that there was a mention of the beaver festival in this month’s Mt View Monitor and the MVSD newsletter and was kind enough to send it to me. Let’s hope lots of other agencies follow their lead!