Category: City Reports

Tempting Fate

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? December 17, 2015

And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of
Hamlet Act III: Scene 1

Apparently I’m not the only one who uses this ominous threat when people are thinking about getting rid of the beavers on their land. Deal with the beavers you have, I always say, because the one’s that come next might be even more problematic. Meanwhile Dr. Peter Busher at BU is busy researching it.

Beavers vs. Humans

CGS prof studies the socially monogamous mammals

Peter Busher has been studying beavers for four decades. A College of General Studies professor and division chair of natural sciences and mathematics [at Boston University], Busher was the first person to track the animals by tagging them with radio transmitters. He examines beaver population dynamics and behavior, including mating habits, birthrates, group structure, and how the animals migrate from one area to another. His findings could inform decisions about how communities respond to beaver activity and manage the animal’s populations, both in Massachusetts and across the country.

Busher says an influx of beavers in a community can raise alarms, causing heated discussions about whether trapping should be broadened to control the population. But he points out that some behaviors can be beneficial. Beaver dam building expands the wetlands, whose functions include filtering toxins from water, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating floods. (Busher notes that wetlands loss contributed to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.)

It’s important to understand how the animal’s population naturally develops, Busher says, and how its family dynamics work. Beavers are territorial, live in family groups, and are selective about which sites they inhabit permanently. These factors mean their populations spike when they move into a new area, but generally drop and stabilize over time.

Knowledge of beavers’ mating habits—which can vary based on their environment—could influence how communities manage the rodents and their “nuisance activity.” Although beavers are known to be among only 3 percent of mammals that are “socially monogamous,” raising their young exclusively with one partner, researchers do not know much about their pairing behavior. Do the parents also mate with other beavers and raise a mixed brood, or are they sexually exclusive? Busher wants to find out.

He believes genetically monogamous beaver populations—those that tend to mate with one partner—increase more slowly and may stay in an area longer. If one of these populations were removed because of nuisance activity, he says, the area would likely be free of beavers for a while. But if the population were more promiscuous, new beavers could move into the area at any time; communities would need to develop a long-term animal removal plan.

Hats off to Dr. Busher. Even I wouldn’t have the cajones to make a threat like that. “If you kill these beavers the next ones you get might have more babies and reproduce even more!” Last I heard research was saying that our beavers were ‘opportunistic monogomists’ and Castor Fiber was loyal and true. Apparently, now he thinks it has to do with individual variables which is pretty fascinating.

All I can say is this gives me memories of Obi Wan.

Go read the entire article and think about our beavers who stayed in on place for 9 years and appeared pretty loyal. We had the unique remarriage after mom died and I wouldn’t say the birth rate changed much with a new partner. 4,4,0,3,1,3,1,4. But what do I know. I never tagged beavers. I just watched them.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Now wish me positive vibes because I’m off for my very last day. Tomorrow we are moving out of the office and I’ll be a retired child psychologist. I’ll be donating my toy collection to the agency where I completed my post doc and the next four days have all the tightly planned synchronized moves of a beaver festival. I’m bracing myself for the personal and clinical chaos that may ensue in the new year. But I’m trusting that I will still find many meaningful ways to contribute!

GO! Tell it on the mountain!

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Forests, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? December 15, 2015

I thought this article deserved some seasonal celebration and this endeared itself to me. Especially the twirling little girl in red on the left who is certain it’s a ballet she’s been asked to conform. Ahh youth! Now read that upcoming headline and just SEE if this doesn’t make you want to add a little pirouette of your own!

Leaving it to beavers: Communities make room for natural engineers

Once valued as little more than pelts, beavers are back in vogue and rebuilding their reputation as habitat engineers.

It helps their cause that the dams they build as homes also create water quality-boosting wetlands and habitat for other species. In the process, the structures slow the flow of water and filter out sediment that would otherwise be on its way to the Chesapeake Bay.

John Griffin, director of urban wildlife programs at the U.S. Humane Society, said beavers are often embroiled in conflicts when their dams result in flooding or other impacts to the developments around them.

“When people are living in an urban area, they think that animals belong in a natural habitat — not here,” he said. “We’re not thinking about there being a functioning ecosystem here.”

The problems arise when both humans and beavers build their homes around natural water features, and each has impacts on the other. But, Griffin said, there are solutions that allow both to be good neighbors.

Residents can use tree guards to protect their expensive ornamentals from beavers’ teeth. Rather than destroying dams or trapping beavers, they can mitigate the impact of rising water tables with devices like the “beaver deceiver,” which uses pipes to channel water through the dam while giving the beaver the feeling of damming the stream.

Beavers and their dams also bring new habitats to urban and suburban environments, creating the wetlands known to be key to several species’ survival. Griffin said more people are warming to the idea that a beaver can bring benefits to the neighborhood.

Urban parks can be a great place for beavers to redefine the landscape, as they have at Bladensburg Waterfront Park along the District of Columbia’s stretch of the Anacostia River. Jorge Bogantes Montero, stewardship program specialist in natural resources for the Anacostia Watershed Society, said three beaver dams constructed in one stretch of the park demonstrate their ability to attract wildlife and clean the water even in the middle of the city.

Nice.

I always believed the day would come when I would read an entire article that said exactly what I would have said if I had written it, but I in fact didn’t write it and knew nothing at all about it – from the other half of the country. I believed the day would come, but I didn’t know for sure, because you never, ever know how these things will turn out. I worked so hard I had wanted to show you what I’ve written so far for the urban beaver chapter, but if you read this article very closely you will get the idea.

Just remember that before Martinez took the plunge in 2007 the phrase ‘Urban Beavers’ was on no one’s lips. And now its popping up on East Coast articles where beaver phobia is usually rampant. I’m so proud of us. We all deserve this to get us ready for what’s to come.

The Epic Tail

heidi08 City Reports, Creative Solutions, Friends of Martinez Beavers, Who's Killing Beavers Now? December 14, 2015

This weekend acclaimed wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas posted about her work with the Martinez Beavers on her facebook page. She told the story of their arrival, protection and untimely death, and checked with me first to see if she had gotten everything correct, accompanying the post with my June video of her working.

June was so complicated because we were bursting with joy to have four kits, but Suzi asked me not to post about them or her so there would be more time for undisturbed photos. She has A LOT of photographers who follow her in the hopes of taking pictures of whatever she’s taking pictures of. And she wanted them not to be summoned. So I kept my mouth closed for a month which was really hard to do.

And then in July they started dying, which is a very unjust cosmic reward for my patience.

Not surprisingly, there have been a lot of responses to the story on her much-trafficked facebook page, and it has been surprising to me to see so many people react to the story with “How sad” or “That’s awful”. “What a tragedy.” Which has been unsettling not becauset I’m UNSAD about this turn of events -(I’m sure I wept more tears than anyone) – but I just don’t think of the Martinez Beaver story with “How sad!” Its a joyous, fierce, dynamic, hopeful, tragic, EPIC story. It’s the story of civic pride and a big money battle leading to David beating Goliath. It’s the story of urban renewal and a polluted creek awakened from the dead. And I’m not sure we’ve reached the final chapter yet.

It made me think of this iconic scene from Northern Exposure which I loved when it was on a million years ago. The technology is sooo old I can’t embed it, so you will have to click on the photo to see Ed and Marilyn discuss our beavers’ fate this summer at the laundry mat. She tells the perfect tribal story for our situation. You’ll have to watch a short silly ad, I can’t help that, but I believe it will be worth it.

Beaver elements: water and fire?

heidi08 Beavers and water, City Reports, What's killing beavers now?, Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's Killing Beavers Now? December 11, 2015

Hopkinton residents blame beavers for flooding woes

HOPKINTON — Several residents of Huckleberry Road are pushing town officials to help find solutions for beaver dams on Whitehall Brook they say are flooding their properties. “The water is less than 40 feet from my house,” Jim Sullivan, of 18 Huckleberry Road, told selectmen last week.

Don MacAdam, conservation administrator, said Thursday several town officials inspected several properties on Huckleberry Road earlier this week to see the flooding. He said he has also seen a beaver dam and evidence of the animals at Pratt Farm, a nearby property on Fruit Street that the town recently bought. Along for the walk were the animal control officer, health administrator and principal planner.

“I’m assuming (the flooding) has to do with beaver dams further down the brook,” MacAdam said.

Sullivan said at Board of Health meeting they also brought up beaver problems. “They agreed there is a situation there,” he said.

Jennifer Belesi, of 24 Huckleberry Road and also a member of the Board of Health, said the problem will take a well-coordinated effort of the residents, town and state. The flood water could threaten wells and septic tanks, which makes it a health problem, she said.

“This is not just one beaver,” she said. “This is an enormous issue.”

Call the WAAmbulance. Between November 2013 and January 2015 this website has reported on no fewer than 7 articles about the DIRE beaverness in Hopkinton, which warranted trapping on every single count. Even though we got them to talk to Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions somewhere along the way, many many beavers were killed. Apparently the problem is still DIRE.

Honestly, even more so than most of beaver-phobic Massachusetts, Hopkinton appears to be on permanent red alert.

More reasons to fear beaver from the Swedes. Actually this might be my very favorite beaver headline ever. Maybe I should be keeping a file.

Did a beaver burn down a Swedish family home?

Police have revealed that a list of usual suspects has been narrowed down to one main culprit believed to be responsible for a fire which gutted a Swedish family home: a beaver.
The house burned to the ground after a blaze in Heby municipality near Uppsala, north of Stockholm, on Monday.

Police launched a probe into suspected arson, but revealed late on Wednesday that a forensic examination of the site had identified a potential suspect, who is yet to be traced.

“Our technicians have reached that conclusion. The beaver left behind forensic evidence which led us to it,” Uppsala police press spokesperson Christer Nordström told public broadcaster SVT.

No one was injured in the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault after a tree toppled by the four-legged rodent fell on to a power transmission line.

“I heard the evidence was trees that had been gnawed on and such like. I don’t know anything about the forensic team’s beaver expertise, but that’s the information I have received,” said Nordström.

The animal, thought to have his hideout in a nearby river, was understood to still be at large on Thursday.

“The beavers themselves would probably not claim they destroy society functions. But they often fell trees that fall on electricity wires. If I may offer a theory, without having any insight into the case, I think it’s a tree that has fallen and caused sparks,” beaver expert Lars Plahn at the county council’s environmental department told SVT.

I LOVE LARS. Don’t you love Lars? He’s brave enough not to play another round of Blame the Rodent, and we have to respect that. I’m sorry for the fire, but at least when the Swedes write a silly article like this they have the decency to realize they’re being ridiculous.

Which is obviously more than we can say for Hopkinton.

Castor Transport

heidi08 Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Who's saving beavers now? December 10, 2015

Sick beaver chauffeured 400 km to new lodgings

A volunteer driver from Stittsville, Ont., has successfully chauffeured a sick beaver to its new home in Rosseau, Ont., nearly 400 kilometres west of Ottawa — a dam long road trip.

The beaver, whose plight caught the attention of many Canadians on social media, was found dehydrated, underweight and lethargic in an Ottawa-area backyard.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary tweeted an urgent plea for a driver to pick up the 11-kilogram beaver and take it to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, which is better equipped to treat the animal.

It took only 30 minutes for Mary Herbert — a self-confessed “beaver fan” — to respond to the request.

“Where I live we have beaver ponds close by. It’s just nice when I’m out walking with my dog seeingthe beavers,” said Herbert. “When an animal needed aid I figured I could step up to the plate and do it.”

Kudos for Mary, Rideau Valley Wildlife workers and Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, for helping out this little beaver in distress. And congratulations to the CBC for recognizing this as cheerfully Canadian story. It’s a fun listen and you will enjoy it.

mayorweasel — **Mayor shakes hands with protestor at beaver rally**

In case the name Stittsville sounds familiar it should, because its where artist Anita Utas was trying to save urban beavers a few years back. Remember her? She was watching over a family who lived in a housing pond. The city insisted it wasn’t a family, the father wasn’t killed, there weren’t kits, and that they wouldn’t be harmed, that they had listened to resident outcry. They then waited until a national holiday weekend in Canada to rip the beavers out and later told Anita that the mother and two kits were “RELOCATED”. Two months later they sent her footage of grown beavers that couldn’t POSSIBLY be the kits, saying they had all matured handily and not to worry about it. Remember?

Anyway, the actions of this monumental weasel was once Stittsville’s biggest claim to beaver fame. But now Mary’s heroic rescue is. Making headlines all over including the Huffington Post this morning.

Congratulations!

You were promised a good story from the ECOLOGIST yesterday, and I do not disappoint. How’s this from Oliver Tickle?

Carlisle floods: bring back the trees, and the beavers!

The key to reducing the risk of more floods like those in Carlisle is to realise that conventional ‘flood defence’ can never provide security against the ever more extreme weather events that global warming will bring. We must embrace natural solutions to holding back flood waters: more trees; and bring back the beavers!

Trees are important for another reason too. They are food for beavers, and beavers use them to build their dams. And beavers will do all the work of damming up the streams and gullies for us, free of charge. And that’s absolutely key to restoring landcapes and making them water retentive.

We should therefore select water-loving species that are palatable to beavers – like poplars, willows, sallows and alders – and establish them along watercourses, ditches, streams, ponds and eroded upland gullies.

There”s no doubt that beavers would make an even better job of it, and at much lower cost, so long as we provide them with the trees they need to eat and build their dams with, and give them the freedom to reproduce and spread across the uplands and valleys to recreate truly living landscapes.

The dams would not just reduce flood risk: they would also prevent the summer droughts to which the area is also prone as a result of the rapid water drainage, and restore healthy river flows throughout the year.

I, of course, couldn’t agree more. Great work! People need reminding that beavers have managed water for a long time and understand their job better than we do. England is really helping with that message.

Yesterday’s conference call had the added weight of Dr. Michael Pollock and Dr. Ellen Wohl, which made it a slightly more breathless look at the urban beaver chapter. Ellen is being asked to consider tweaking her very smart tool for evaluating risk of wood in streams versus the benefit, to include beaver dams, which was really exciting. But my favorite moment was when Pollock said that cities needed to think about Education first, then Mitigation, when encountering beaver problems. Then use Relocation before employing trapping.

Which sounded PERFECT to my beaver-lovin’ ears, but needed a little tweaking. What do you think?