Category: Who’s blaming beavers now?

HOW YOU TALK TO REPORTERS ABOUT BEAVERS REALLY MATTERS

heidi08 Who's blaming beavers now? September 17, 2020

Yesterday was an exciting dejavu with some calls to Fairfield public works and the local paper that had the familiar echo of history to them. I ended up having a great conversation with a reporter who is now meeting with Virginia at the dam site this morning. It was strange to have all the urgency of our Martinez story but have it be less personally upsetting to what me. When I dealt with our beavers talking to the press was always breathlessly terrifying that I would say something wrong and they would suffer because of it. This was someone else’s beaver so I could be calmer, focused and more clear-headed.

We talked a long time and as he knew nothing about beavers or the Martinez story I later had the distinct feeling of helping somebody up a mountain a little bit at a time. I would explain what dams were for and then wait for him to catch up. Then explain why beavers mattered and help him along a little more. In the end it felt like he had a pretty great vantage point onto why beavers matter and why removing a dam would alter the ecosystem. Maybe I’m explaining it wrong or exaggerating but it felt important, and I was both hyped up and exhausted afterwards: ready for battle or a long nap.

In the end I connected him to Sonoma Water Agency who had just installed two flow devices and talked about how our success in Martinez. We learned that it HAD been the city that ripped out the dam but didn’t figure out whether the beavers had been harmed already or whether there was a permit to do so in the future.

I’m imagining that quite a few people got phone calls or emails yesterday that they weren’t expecting. And I expect we’ll hear more on the story soon. We wish all good things to Virginia this morning. Good thing beavers can manage in fairly shallow water. This is from the Wenatchee project in Washington.

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In the end how we talk to reporters about beavers really matters. Yesterday this rather strange article starring Glynnis Hood was published. It is from the very tippy top of Canada that is almost Greenland.

Meet Nunavut’s newest arrival: the beaver

A recent beaver catch in Baker Lake, along with this summer’s earlier beaver sighting near Kugluktuk, more than 1,000 kilometres northwest of Baker Lake, have some wondering whether beavers are expanding their range into Nunavut.

The short answer is yes, said Glynnis Hood, a beaver expert and environmental science professor at the University of Alberta.

“What you’re seeing is the start of a frontal movement of animals that are ready to explore, and if it works others will come,” Hood said.

Okay so I’d rather a friend like Glynnis talks to the press about the scourge of beavers ruining the permafrost than anyone else, but sometimes scientists are trying so hard to appear unbiased that they err on the other side.

Case in point:

“Beavers are great colonizers,” she said. “They build on their past successes. They will build a dam and pond system and then, of course, they can successfully reproduce and their young will disperse.”

“Think of how coronavirus spreads, Hood suggested as a comparison: one person can infect two people, and those people can each infect two more people, and “so the spread does get to be fast.”

Good Lord Glynnis. Pick another metaphor, will you? Corona Virus? Yes, beavers are EXACTLY like a crippling plague that’s killing our way of life. You know one that we are spending all our money and time avoiding.

Various articles on beavers have dubbed beavers “ecosystem engineers” and “agents of Arctic destruction and have accused them of “running amok in the Arctic.” That because their landscaping may speed up the thawing of permafrost and release more climate-warming greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

“They can do all of that. They can be a major disturbance, but they are a natural force in nature,” said Hood.

Well yes they are natural. Hurricanes and earthquakes are Natural too. It doesn’t mean anyone likes them. Glynnis can’t you use that big old brain of yours to say something nice about beavers?

“I don’t think they are the only reason that the Arctic is warming and permafrost is melting,” she said, adding that she prefers to see beavers as “our ecological second chance” because they also create biodiversity.”

Next time LEAD WITH THAT okay???

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh!

WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES

You would think, wouldn’t you, that a city spitting distance from arguably the most famous beavers in Canada, just 7 miles away from Olympic village where beavers have gotten famous for pictures like the one you see, you would think any city so close to smart answers would be, well SMART, right?

But you’d be wrong. Because Burnaby just has no fricking idea what to do to live with beavers. And their loud whining can be heard all across her majesty’s Great White North.

Damn beavers from destroying Deer Lake forest

Beavers are one of Canada’s great creatures. They are on our money and in our hearts – unless they are cutting down certain types of trees in Burnaby.

The City of Burnaby has taken steps to stop beavers from gnawing down trees around Deer Lake. Fencing has been erected around trees in the area, including sequoias and purple beech, according to photos submitted by Burnaby nature photographer John Preissl.

Um. Guess which are bigger Burnaby. Beavers or Chickens? Do you think this measily wire unattached to a stake is going to keep a 50 lb beaver from just leaning on that fence until they can nibble? I sure don’t.

Preissl regularly photographs around Deer Lake and monitors the wildlife. He says some of the trees can be used by Eagles.

“The beavers got a few more of the trees under the Eagle perch tree overnight,” he said. “One of the downed trees is partially blocking the boardwalk near the Hart House (restaurant) … the brand new cedars and firs have almost all been taken down by the beavers. Maybe time for some fencing around the few remaining?”

Preissl said that he contacted the city and a staff member was immediately sent to take down the tree blocking the boardwalk around the lake and that had created a safety hazard.

Oh NO! The important eagle won’t have ANY where to land when those mean beavers take down that tree. Or anything to eat when all the animals thriving at a beaver pond stop getting a feast of insects or little fish.

Better kill the beaver to save the eagle. That sounds downright American! It’s what they’d do in Montana for sure.

Park Board continues discussion of beavers on Beaver Creek Park

Hill County Park Board met Monday and discussed beaver management options and beaver trapping reports, as well as group reports.

Fran Buell of Gildford provided a beaver damage control report for the board.

“The trappers are now going to concentrate on new areas where they feel, through observation of current beaver activities — i.e. lodge building, dam building, cut down trees and scent mounds — indicate the need to remove the beaveer before more extensive damage is done,” a report presented by Buell said.

Look just because it’s called beaver creek doesn’t mean we want beavers in our creek! Smack dab in the middle of the state, we have places for camping and fishing and NO PLACES for beavers. Do you hear me?

Buell said that in December and January only three beavers were removed due to the weather, lack of ice and other factors, such as previous beaver removal in the area, 2-year-old beavers leaving the colony and human presence, are more than likely the reason for the low number.

She added that the total number of beavers that have been removed by the Montana Trappers Association since the trapping started in October is 25.

Good lord. The area is kind of a highway for beavers. but 25 since October is a high number. Three families. That’s a grim thought. On the bright side the trappers might be exaggerating their success. That’s comforting.

The board also discussed possible alternative beaver management options with park board member Renelle Braaten. She said she has been in contact with the Humane Society of the United States Wildlife Response and Policy Senior Adviser Dave Pauli and provided a report that said he is working with some foundations and non-profits to come up with some plans to teach people in the community more about beavers.

His report said he has reached out to two beaver experts in Montana because they were excited to learn about opportunities to potentially have a co-existence demonstration project in Montana and the opportunity to have a regional workshop here as well.

“He’s pretty excited about it, and I’m pretty excited about it,” Braaten said. “I think it would be excellent for our park not only to do some things out there that would be good for the park, but also I know (board chair Steve Mariani) said at a meeting once it could be a viewing area and that’s a possibility is what it sounded like to me.”

Mariani was not at Monday’s meeting.

Pauli said groups like the Defenders of Wildlife and National Resources Defense Council, which also have employed the two beaver expert biologists, had quickly signed on to potentially provide a training conference in Havre for any state, federal, non-governmental organization and private parties that want to learn more about beavers.

Bratten added that nothing is written in stone, but she wanted to provide an update.

You mean actual wildlife for people to see in a park? Get out! What a novel idea! And great numbers of fish and birds because of the invertebrate changes beavers bring? Wow! That’s something,

It takes a steady soul like Dave Pauli to bring new ideas to Montana. I might just be whacking every one in the head with rolled up newspapers.

IN WHICH CONNECTICUT LOSES ITS MIND OVER BEAVERS

heidi08 Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's Killing Beavers Now? January 13, 2020

Is it me or is 2o2o suddenly looking like a very busy year.

I have all these deadlines that I think, oh I don’t have to worry about that until January and then it’s JANUARY 13th!!!! Practically half way through the month and I have SO much to do. The presentation for beaverCon and the application for the community foundation grant and good LORD then all the begging for donations to the auction,

I’ll never, never be done in time. Let’s stop thinking about it and go to Connecticut.

Beaver trapping season underway; some CT residents don’t like it

NORFOLK — Roger Johnson and his wife were hiking near Haystack Mountain State Park when they came upon a young beaver caught in a steel trap near a small pond and instinctively went to investigate.

They freed the animal.

“Something didn’t look quite right and it was because one of the yearlings was caught in a steel jaw leg hold trap, splashing around trying to free itself,” Johnson said, describing what occurred Dec. 28 as the couple walk across the south dam between Barbour Woods and Haystack Mountain and observed beavers swimming below.

A hero! Is the town throwing a parade? Did the mayor give him the keys the city. Did they dedicate December 28 as national Roger Johnson day?

Of course not.

Johnson was charged with springing the trap and the incident prompted him to plan to petition the legislature to change the types of traps allowed in the state, a local lawmaker to investigate the issue further and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to affirm trapping as necessary in the state.

Of course he was charged. No good deed goes unpunished they say. Especially no beaver good deed. Interesting quote from the department of Environmental Protection.

“Trapping is a gruesome activity, but the traps are designed to kill the animal quickly,” he said. “I don’t know what pond (Johnson) was referring to but it was probably legal to trap there. He was very lucky he didn’t get injured releasing the beaver. Those traps will take your hand right off. Or, the beaver can bite you, or they’ll wack you with their tail. That can cause some damage too.”

Williams said hasn’t heard of many people releasing a beaver as Johnson did.

“It’s rare that a person is able to free a beaver,” he said. “As for finding traps, the trapping community itself tries to stay out of the limelight. You rarely hear about trappers in Connecticut, because they know it’s a hot topic. People don’t like to see it. It’s in the best interest of the trapper to keep a low profile. And people rarely fool around with someone else’s traps.”

I agree with you whole-heartedly, sir. Trapping is a gruesome activity. And by your own rules this trap obviously failed because a beaver was NOT killed instantly and somebody rescued it. What on EARTH does killing beavers have to do with protecting the environment, anyway? Putting Deep in charge of regulating traps is like putting Exxon in charge of counting oiled birds. It’s like putting your drunk cousin in charge of controlling the liquor cabinet. It’s like putting your randma in charge of sexting memes.

When the couple found the beaver that day at the end of December, Johnson said, the trap was strong and had the animal in its grip.

“It was just a vise, with two sides, and the beaver was in it,” he said. “It wasn’t like an old-school bear trap with teeth, but it was metal and very strong. It broke a stick in half.”

The couple said the neighboring property owners near the pond were watching the scene, and came out to investigate. “The neighbors we talked to were furious,” Johnson said. “They also have dogs, and one of them swims in that pond … they said ‘That could easily have been our dog.’”

Johnson and Hannelová waited with the little beaver until it was dark, and then put it in some tall grass near the water’s edge. When they returned the next day, the beaver was gone.

“We saw a little blood trail in the grass leading to the pond, so maybe it went back in the water … we didn’t see it anywhere,” Johnson said.

Wait, they left the beaver? After all that they just left him there? They didn’t bring him to animal rehab. Or put him in a box by the stove? Let me see what wildlife rescue was the closest. Two counties over in Granby or Sharon. Either one would take a little beaver. The state’s the size of a postage stamp so it would be a half hour in either direction.

But sure, I guess. You took a photo with your camera and started a petition. And sat with the bleeding little beaver for a while. Yeah?

We saw a little blood trail in the grass leading to the pond, so maybe it went back in the water … we didn’t see it anywhere,” Johnson said.

He called the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to let them know what happened, “and to check if these traps were legally set,” he said. “The next morning, an environmental officer named Ed Norton returned my phone call to inform me that my actions were illegal. I was charged with criminal mischief for removing the beaver and disabling the steel traps.”

The officer told Johnson that, when a person finds an animal in a trap, they are not allowed to touch it or move it, and they should contact the state’s wildlife division if they have questions.

Points for follow up. You picked up the phone and turned yourself in. That’s something, Maybe you really weren’t sure what to do. That’s okay. The people in charge aren’t either.

Lawmakers

Rep. Maria Horn said she has received a number of calls about beaver trapping, and the types of traps that are being used.

“I’ve taken some calls from people in the last few days, and we have investigated a law banning these kinds of traps,” she said. “We got a lot of pushback, so we’ve put it off for another day.

“In the interim, I need to do research on the traps themselves. Massachusetts has banned these types of traps in favor of another type, and they are used under water, so they’re not a danger to dogs. That’s something I’m going to look into,” she said.

Horn’s biggest concern is safety for everyone. “My concern is that trapping is done in an appropriate location,” she said. “Are there other alternatives for the kinds of traps that are used, is another concern. And obviously, there’s a concern about the humanity of trapping. If a representative from the DEEP is out there, doing their job to explain what’s permissible and what isn’t, then that will make a difference. But the location is important.”

Hey, I have an idea! How about the NO TRAPPING idea? You know the one where you actually SOLVE the problem instead of killing it. I’m just thinking out loud here but maybe you could give a flow device a try before you bring in the guillotine?

Sen. Craig Miner, R-30, is a longtime outdoorsman who has discussed the issue of trapping animals before.

“We’ve had legislation proposed on trapping and the types of traps, and last year, we had a very long public hearing about it,” he said. “We concluded that it would be difficult for humans and wildlife to live together if the beaver population increased. That includes nuisance wildlife in particular, and beavers could fall into that category.”

Funny thing senator. There are a finite number of places for a beaver to live in a postage stamp state like yours. And beavers are territorial so they will keep out anyone who there isn’t space for. When your trap-happy buddies take a family of beavers OUT space for a new family opens up. Like those vending machines that drop cokes when you put in your money.

By trapping out families you actually make more space for new families to come – Increasing the number of beavers in Connecticut in a constant vending machine of take and replace.

And since your state is surrounded with other postage stamps they have lots of choices about how to get there. Four states share a border with Connecticut. And beavers don’t need passports. Take out the Jones and the Smith family will just swim on over. Take out the Smith’s and the Lincoln’s will be on standby. And so on. And so on.

But HEY, if you put in a flow device and actually SOLVED the problem instead of making a hole in it, the next family that tried to move in would get discouraged and have to keep looking for the unoccupied space of their dreams. Actually making a stable population instead of a constantly refilling one. Gosh.

“Every time I see a beaver (dead) on the side of the road, I think, ‘Oh my God, how awful that must have been,’” he said. “But if I see one in a trap, I don’t feel that way. Trapping seems to be the most logical tool; it seems to be the most well-thought out process so far. And there are always advancements in the mechanisms that people use. The steel trap is a much quicker piece of equipment (to eliminate beavers) but it doesn’t work in all settings, which is why there are a number of different (traps). People who know what they’re doing will use the proper mechanism.”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hardly know where to begin. I have started this sentence a thousand different ways with a hundred different profane insults. You feel sad when you see a beaver hit by a car but NOT when you see a beaver killed in a trap?

Of course you know they both result in death and are probably not that different for the beaver. A metal thing comes out of nowhere making a big noise and then you die. I’m pretty sure that’s how a beaver sees it. I’m not sure there’s any real distinction. Well, your lungs don’t burst when you’re hit by a car I guess. But other than that…

But HEY I know one big difference and correct me if I’m wrong on this. You’ve actually SEEN beavers hit by cars on your way to the capital, senator. But you’ve never actually SEEN a beaver dangling lifelessly in a conibear. Because those things happen out of sight. And you know what they say. Out of sight. Out of mind.

Please never leave me alone in an elevator with this man. It’s not safe for him.

“I understand why people feel the way they do about trapping, but the state does everything it can to make it work and to control the number of beavers,” he said. “It’s all done for a reason, and it’s not as comforting for some people. But without trapping, there would be many more.”

Oh can you understand? You sympathetic hypocritical double talker. You understand NOTHING. Even the reporter had to go all the way back to 2014 to find a positive article about beavers.

In another story reported by CBC Canada radio, “Beavers are dam important to the ecosystem,” beaver habitats prevent water temperatures from rising, which protects fish like salmon and trout, restores river systems, and over time protect the impact of evaporating water on farmland and open space.

I had no idea this was going to be such a marathon article when it started. This reporter needs a copy of Ben’s book, stat!

Trapping is the best way to manage beavers, the DEEP said. “In situations when the presence of beavers cannot be tolerated, or the landowner wishes to control the number of beavers on his property, trapping during the regulated winter trapping season is the most effective solution,” the DEEP said. “Licensed trappers will often voluntarily assist landowners by harvesting beaver during the trapping season.”

Who is the sympathetic figure in this story? No, seriously. I’m asking. It’s not the guy who freed the beaver so it could die slowly. And it’s not the senator who hates seeing dead beavers on the road but loves to see them in traps. Or the DEEP officer who thinks beavers have infinite powers and must be stopped. I’m not even sure its the reporter. who read something nice about them in 2014. Maybe I wouldn’t like people in Connecticut that much. I mean honestly even the state park is paying to trap beavers on public lands. What’s up with that?

JUST REMEMBER WE ALL SAW IT COMING, SONOMA.

heidi08 Attitudes towards beavers, mistaken identities, Who's blaming beavers now? December 24, 2019

There was a very funny set Wanda Sykes did when she guest hosted the Ellen Show where she read the headlines from certain kinds of very predictable stories and shook her head knowingly saying “Oh White people“,

Well imagine I’m doing that right now. Only saying things like “Oh water people” and “Ohhh otter people”. Sometimes when you can just tell how a stories going to end, it shouldn’t even be allowed to start. We wrote about this story three days ago, and we predicted this would happen.

Sonoma Water Agency cuts notch in beaver dam in Sonoma

Armed with a chainsaw, workers with the Sonoma Water Agency caused a stir among beaver fans last week when they used the equipment to cut a “bypass hole” in the beaver dam near a trail in Sonoma.

Sonoma resident Robert Burkhart, who said he often walks his dog on that path, saw the workers and tried to get them to at least cut the bypass on the sides rather than in the center of the dam. But they wouldn’t listen, they were just following orders, he said.

“I know there are other ways this can be done,” Burkhart said.

Burkhart took photos and video of the workers, which shows one man slicing through the branches that create the beaver dam.

Now you just KNOW he was not happy to be photographed chainsawing the beaver dam. But he did it anyway. Because it was noisy and fun. And involved some kind of risk and destruction. What could go wrong? Do you remember the grinning face of that worker lowering the turkey into the machine over the shoulder of Sarah Palin? Yeah, sure you do. I’m pretty sure it was the exact same face.

“They cut a notch in the dam. Tonight the beaver will fix that. Beaver don’t stop building,” said Caitlin Cornwall, planning and partnerships advisor at Sonoma Ecology Center.

Cornwall said the notch was cut for flood control, but beaver will always fix an area where they hear water running.

“They are stimulated to build when they hear water trickling through the dam,” she said.

There is an alternative to cutting into the dam, she said. Called a “beaver deceiver” or pond leveler, it connects the two sides of the stream that are bisected by the beaver dam.

“It reduces the lateral width of the pond without stimulating the beaver,” Cornwall said.

Well, not exactly. The beaver is still stimulated to rebuild his protection. Because he’s not in a coma. It’s just that he can’t. And if we’re lucky he eventually stops trying. And a beaver deceiver and pond leveler are two different things. But I guess that’s neither here nor there.

“(Beaver dams) are incredibly effective at catching and holding water, which our state needs more of,” she said. “Beaver ponds create wonderful biological habitat areas. This is a much bigger issue than just in Sonoma.”

Burkhart said the area where the dam is located is a beautiful ecological area. Beaver dams are important biodiversity habitat that help prevent soil erosion and create pools where fish, birds and other wildlife can live. Their ponds also help filter pollution out of the water, recharge aquifers, and retain silt. They also act as firebreaks, and can slow down floods.

Okay, We like THIS part a lot. Robert Burkhart was the reason we even found out about this story in the first place. Thanks Robert, He alerted folks who alerted me. We LOVE that he knows and cares about beavers in the state. We’re less enamored of the photos he provided to the reporter. These were taken of the site on his many sightings.

Now if you’re thinking to yourself, , hey I don’t remember beavers climbing trees! You’d be dead right. Because these lovely photos are of river otters. No doubt enjoying the benefits the beaver dams provided. No doubt there ARE beavers somewhere nearby because otters don’t build dams that need to be chain sawed but these, as we say in the trade, ent them.

I can dimly remember a million years ago back when I first started watching our beavers seeing an otter sitting on the lodge and thinking, hey wait, that looks different, is that a beaver? Ahh memories. We all start somewhere. I’m sure there are actual beavers nearby. Who else would build a dam and upset SCWA?

“It’s exciting that we have these big smart ecosystem engineers here who are members of our Sonoma Valley community,” Cornwall said.

Calls and emails sent to the Sonoma Water Agency were not returned by press time.

Nope. I’m sure they were not. I’m sure staff nipped out the door and turned off the lights after their chainsaw massacre. Because that’s what they do. If enough people write the paper complaining theremight be an stern email from the mayor when they get back to work. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. The word ‘notching’ is a pretty sophisticated beaver coverup. And they already have the ecologists and the papers repeating it, I’d say they get a bit of heat for a day and then it all goes away.

Until next time.

But it was fun way to start Christmas Eve. Have a wonderful day. Someone shared this yesterday and I had to add one missing part before I could share it with you.

SONOMA COPIES MARTINEZ IN EXACTLY THE WRONG WAY

heidi08 Who's blaming beavers now? December 21, 2019

This was the SOS I received yesterday afternoon.

The Sonoma County Water Authority took a chain saw to the Beaver Dam behind Bettencourt St., between 2nd St. West and the walking path. They claim to have been given “verbal permission”. These beaver’s have pups…please help protect them. Please notify what ever agency can help spare our wildlife. These are the only Beavers in the City of Sonoma. Help!

I was surprised because these are beavers I’ve never heard of an the message was sent by someone I didn’t know. I eventually turned over enough rocks to learn that SCWA had been worried about the dam for a while and was hoping that the recent rains would take it out. When it didn’t they got permission to do it themselves.

Kind of.

A series of emails were forwarded basically explaining that SCWA was concerned about the obstruction of the dam, the possible blockage of culverts down the road and the increase in mosquitoes in the summer (!) so they talked to CDFW who advised them to notch the dam.

A self justifying account was sent by SCWA to folks at Sonoma ecology Center whose phones were ringing off the hook when this all went down. That list is pretty much all bogus official-speak designed to make people not argue with them, except for the first one about obstruction which I’m sure is the whole reason they did it

It seemed stupid to me at first to do this on the first day of christmas vacation when children and parents are home and watching. But the thing is it when you think about it friday was EXACTLY the kind of day they would choose to do this. The last act before heading off for a 2 week vacation so all the public attention and yelling wouldn’t bother them. And don’t think for a moment there wasn’t yelling. Lots of people mistakenly think beavers live in the dam. So cutting into one with a noisy chainsaw probably got some attention.

Of course SCWA could have notified residents that this was going to happen. And explained ahead of time that they weren’t going to harm the beavers. They could have notched the dam with a silent clam rake instead of a chainsaw. They could have put up a little sign to let folks know what they were doing. They could have written the Sonoma Ecology Center BEFORE they got caught and let them know and asked for their help getting the word out.

But – I ask you – where’s the fun in that?

Better to throw a live grenade into the crowded foxhole and then go on vacation for two weeks. It is so exactly what our public works would do – and DID do – that it almost takes my breath. But then I remember how very differently this all feels when I’m not in the front lines protecting OUR beavers.

So I passed on what I could to the right players. I made sure folks knew what had happened and who to talk to, and then I went to make 72 mushroom and leak raviolis for the upcoming beaver dinner. Because, even I, eventually remembered this wasn’t my circus. And those weren’t my monkeys. So to speak.

Sonoma has very smart people who care about this. They will figure it out. But even people who know better can be stupid about beavers.

Case in point: made last year in CANADA for Chrissakes,