Category: City Reports

Wildcare visits Beavers

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, City Reports, Educational, Environmental June 7, 2012

Wildcare is a rehabilitation and education nonprofit located in San Rafael. If a hawk ran into your office building in San Francisco or a shivering raccoon turned up in the parking lot in Corte Madera, odds are they’d bring it to Wildcare in Marin. Their newsletter is published every month and goes to some 10,000 addresses. So I was fairly excited when our new otter friends talked them into including beavers in their June issue. Check out the lovely photos, courtesy of Cheryl Reynolds as usual!

beaver dads – worth a dam!

by Heidi Perryman, Ph.D., President & Founder, Worth A Dam

The animal kingdom often provides us with a fairly bleak view of fatherhood – especially in mammals! Defending territory and mating rites seem to take up most of dad’s time – but when it comes to beavers we see a whole new side to paternity!

Since beavers select a single partner and mate for life, dad has much more time for hands-on childcare, parenting moments, everyday repairs and helping around the house.

Beavers and father’s day! This is an exciting inclusion on the paternal theme! I have learned amazing things about beaver fathers since I’ve been watching our family. Go read the whole thing yourself which I worked hard to finish back before festival details were all-consuming.

When mom is getting ready to give birth dad will often move into a nearby “bachelor pad” to give her space, but once the kits are on the scene, he is in close attendance. It is dad who brings tender new shoots to the nursing kits to entice them to try solid food and dad with whom they spend much of their time. He gives them beaver-back rides and practices swimming and diving to teach them how to make their way in the water.

If you’re looking to be (or find) a better father, we’d recommend spending some time with beavers!

Having an editor who asked me questions, nudged me to say more and prompted me to clarify my more oblique points made me realize that I’ve been very, very spoiled on this website – writing without supervision whatever misspelled non sequiturs I might want to employ. JoLynn (who does the newsletters) reminded me to include a natural history section (what I would call ‘beaver basics’) and I was happy to feature dad’s remarkable parenting and talk about him as a single parent. We disagreed about how much of the beaver ;controversy’ to include, but ended up with a fairly harmonious compromise. I made sure to conclude with a plug for the beaver festival.

The Martinez Beavers have earned international recognition, local, state and national media, a popular website, a community of followers and a yearly beaver festival. This year’s (celebrated August 4th) will mark the 5th anniversary of their arrival.

While the first festival sought just to apply pressure to an ambivalent city council that had not yet decided to welcome the beavers, the event has turned into a celebration of all beavers, drawing wildlife supporters from around California. The entire crew of Worth A Dam is committed to helping cities learn about inexpensive solutions to beaver problems and teaching that these remarkable aquatic engineers “really ARE Worth A Dam!”

As of 2012, three other states have adopted beaver festivals of their own, and cities from Ontario to Maine are considering future trials.

Gosh that makes us sound impressive. Go read the whole thing and while you’re there check out what else wildcare has to offer. I love the idea that Northern California readers will read the article and think about beavers in a whole new light.

A.M. photo from Cheryl of ‘Reed’ carrying mud.

Happy to see beavers…

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports June 3, 2012

Belle Isle park staffers say beavers have returned after 100 years

By Christine MacDonald The Detroit News

Beavers are back after an absence of about 100 years, and experts say they’re another sign the Detroit River is coming back.

Park officials discovered the animals’ dens and tell-tale tooth-marked tree stumps in February in the island’s forest-covered canals. But it wasn’t until last week, when a park visitor snapped a cell phone photo of a beaver swimming in the Blue Heron Lagoon, that staffers were convinced.

They believe three beavers are living on the island.

“It’s pretty awesome,” said Keith Flournoy, Belle Isle park manager, after pulling away brush last week to show off one of the dens under a fallen tree. “This is a boost. It’s great to see the animal come back.”

First General Motors and now beavers back in Detroit! This IS good news! Remember we read about beavers at Edison powerplant on the Detroit River in February of 2009. Looking back on the column I wrote when I was just learning about beaver misrepresentations I can see I wasn’t hopeful about their future at the time. I’m happy to see that they swam into good hands. The original report was from Connors Creek, 27 miles away, so about dispersal range. Belle Island is a big, tree covered, wildly perfect place for them to be. Bigger than central park and located between Michigan and Canada. Click on the photo for a great video from the Belle Island Conservancy.

Apparently people have been reporting beaver for years but no one on staff believed it until someone snapped a cell phone shot and they started looking for felled trees. I’m not sure why they’d assume they DON’T have beavers since they are basically across the stream from Toronto. Now they say they are finding ‘dens’ and think three beaver are on the island. I have to admit I am not so sure of their naturalist acumen after reading this…

Only beavers and porcupine cut down trees in the same style, said Richard Kik, a zoo keeper at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.

Porcupines? The Zoo keeper at the Belle Island Nature Zoo thinks porcupines cut down trees? I can only hope that was a reporter miscommunication or a typo or something. Otherwise I’m very, very worried about the fate of the animals in your care. Do you also thinks beavers eat fish and penguins fly? To be clear, porcupines DO strip bark from trees and eat little branches near the tops. Is that what you mean? But they do not do this…

There is only one animal that does that. And it isn’t pointy.

Well, I’m choosing to be cautiously opptomistic that Belle Island is so enthusiastic at the moment, but I think I’ll just drop them a ‘beaver information care basket’ just in case. In the meantime we should all just enjoy what it’s like when folks enjoy beavers and take them as the watershed compliment that they truly are.

The Sweet Smell of Success in Cornwall

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions May 31, 2012

Beavers 1 – Smart City Manager 1 – Nasty Politicians 0 – Beavergate Team Presents to Cornwall Ontario City Council

CFN – I’m used to covering Cornwall City Council, but Monday night was special as I was part of a group to present to Council. Wyatt Walsh led the charge by asking CFN for help with the beaver trapping in Guindon Park. What happened from there is a text book case of abusive and ignorant attitudes from elected officials in response to an overwhelming demand from the public and what seems to be some petty personal response by some councilors and one particular manager to this scribbler and CFN.

Looks like the beaver-beleaguered city of Cornwall Ontario had an unbelievably exciting public wave on tuesday evening. You won’t want to skip reading the entire account here. Rebecca Sorrell, who had been promoting humane ways to live with beavers in person, on camera and to the media for weeks and weeks, was given time to address the council. And many people showed up to support the cause.

Rebecca spoke for our group. She greeted council in French and the proceeded to outline our journey and the hugely generous offer by The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals from BC that will be sending down an expert to implement devices that will preclude trapping as well as training city staff and volunteers. Those actions hopefully will forever banish Conibear traps from Guindon Park and we’re hoping that council pass such a by-law in the fall stating that.

Congratulations Team Cornwall! And Congratulations Furbearer defenders who raised money for this install that will be undertaken by our young friend Adrian Nelson! I am so proud of all of you, and remembering our dynamic city council meeting lo these many years ago, I’m honestly jealous of the civic buzz you must be feeling right now! Since we couldn’t get a quote from the beavers, here are some comments from the heroine herself….

These last few weeks have truly been an eye opening experience for me. I have learned first hand that the combined power of a group of individuals in search of a common goal is virtually unstoppable.

“I started this journey to save the beavers simply because I believed it was the right thing to do and a good opportunity to teach a life lesson to my daughter. I never would have imagined that I would be the one gaining the most from it. It truly restores my faith in humanity to see how united everyone was for our cause and to see how capable we were as a whole. It warms my heart to know that I had a role in evoking change in my community with the help of so many amazing people.

The friendships I have harvested during this battle will no doubt prove to become lifetime commitments. For all intents and purposes it would appear as though we achieved our goal. We saved the beavers of Guindon Park and we have pushed the city of Cornwall in the direction of progressive and humane change. I am looking forward to many evenings spent at Guindon Park observing these amazing creatures at work and I sleep soundly with the knowledge that my family will be safe in doing so.

From the bottom of my heart, to all involved, I extend the most sincere gratitude and thanks. To quote a lifetime hero of mine, Mr. Jack Layton, “Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.” I certainly didn’t this time nor will I for future battles on the horizon. This is only the beginning. The time for change is upon us and I have a new found confidence that not only is it possible but a certain reality.”

Beavers Abroad and Abreast

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Environmental, Friends of Martinez Beavers May 30, 2012

If I had to choose a favorite animal it would be the beaver

STACEY COLE

Nature Talks

Unionleader New Hampshire

IF I HAD TO PICK a favorite animal, the beaver would find itself heading the list. Oh, I know the placement of dams built by these wondrous creatures can upset folks who have different land-use objectives, but I really enjoy their company.

Now that’s the kind of opening paragraph that makes me sigh, settle back in my chair, pick up the coffee and look forward to a good read. Thanks Stacey (who I read is a 90 year- old man and an award winning writer.) Beavers are your favorite? Gosh, I know just what you mean!

Beaver ponds attract many other animals and, with the exception of river otters, beavers appear quite willing to share their pond with them. I came to that conclusion several years ago when the first pair of beavers constructed a dam. They turned our original half-acre “dug” pond into a nearly two- acre body of water. In time, the enlarged pond attracted many species of birds including wild turkeys, grackles, song sparrows, scarlet tanagers, catbirds and several kinds of warblers. These birds built nests among the various shrubs and small trees that grew around the pond’s edge.

Ahh, what a nice observation! It makes me think of the 2008 research by Hilary Cooke and Steve Zack that beaver chewed trees create ideal nesting habitat for migratory and song birds! Of course, even if a fellow wasn’t a crazy research reader and just sat still and WATCHED his eyes would eventually teach them all about the good they do for the ecosystem. Stacey goes on to say that a friend gave him the article about blue herons nesting in flooded dead trees at beaver ponds, and how much he enjoyed it. Honestly, Stacey is a national treasure. Go read the entire article!

Just one problem with Stacey’s writing as far as I can see

Our beaver pond has always attracted both great blue and green herons. As far as I have observed, there are no fish left of any size.

Um…what do you think those all those birds are doing at your pond if there’s no fish? Come to think of it, why did the old beaver have to chase away the otter in the first place if the otter didn’t have really delicious things to eat? Trust me. There are fish in those ponds.

splittail — Green Heron Catches Splittail at Third Dam: Cheryl Reynolds

Also this morning there’s a beaver revisit in the Martinez Patch. Reporter Jim Caroompas wants to know why the beavers are still controversial even after they have not caused problems for 5 years? He says he’s not exactly a fan, but just genuinely wants to know why the beavers are still disliked. Maybe you can go help by posting your thoughts.

This is Martinez, where even aquatic furry critters become lightning rods for politics. But I don’t understand, now that the fears about the beavers bringing floods and doom to downtown have passed, why they are still the target of so much animosity in some. What have they done other than bring us visitors? Created an active creek eco-system that now includes muskrats, turtles, and other denizens? Brought us national publicity?

I can’t imagine whether this is a genuine question. Doesn’t he remember that the beavers attack was waged by some of the most powerful players in the city; wealthy men who still wield massive powers that affect every ‘pocket‘ of Martinez. (And if you’re a local reader, yes that was a pun). Honestly, hasn’t he heard of the applicable Eratosthenes theorem? I thought everyone learned it by heart in grade school.

I believe its latin name is “sorecus loserium.”

A 50-state Strategy for Beavers?

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions May 29, 2012

There’s a lull in the beaver-trapping news, and I thought it was as good a time as any to show you the other side of what I do with beaver news. Usually I write the reporter, the paper, and any named officials I can find. (Finding officials whose email is unlisted has actually become a weird kind of challenge to me, and I am always thrilled when I crack the code.) Usually the paper will call you first to find out if you are a real human and they have permission to print. Sometimes it just gets printed. Even by recent standards, this was a particularly productive week.

Letter to the Editor: Beavers Have Impact on Wildlife

May 27, 2012 1:15 am

Great article Thursday about driving in to see some beaver dams in the wilderness. Of course, beaver dams create wetlands and attract wildlife whether they’re in the backwoods or in the center of town! Five years ago, resident pressure forced my northern California city to install a flow device to allow some local beavers to stay and now, because of the dams, we regularly see heron, wood duck, steelhead, otter and even mink in our tiny urban stream! Beavers aren’t that hard to see if you know when to look.

Mr. Bandolin’s comments about beavers were interesting. Willow can usually keep up with beaver appetite since more wetlands create more willow. Beaver populations tend to stabilize since offspring leave to seek their own territories at two years. However one variable that really affects whether willow can replenish as fast as beavers chew is the issue of “browse pressure.”

I hope everyone reads your fantastic article and really spends time thinking about the relationship between beavers and wildlife. We are holding our fifth beaver festival to celebrate just that, and they are having their first this year in Utah. One chapter of Audubon in Idaho recently did a “beaver count” because the animals have such an impact on birdlife! Here on the Pacific coast we are realizing that they might be the only salvation to our dwindling salmon populations.

HEIDI PERRYMAN, PH.D.

Martinez, Calif. (Editor’s note: Heidi Perryman is the president and founder of Worth A Dam; website, www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress.)

Colorado

Living with beavers Heidi Perryman, Ph.D.,

President & Founder Worth A Dam Martinez, Calif.

Re. “Beavers gnawing along Tenmile Creek,” SDN, May 26

Great article about the Tenmile Creek beavers. It is a good reminder that even though beavers can bring challenging behaviors, humans who are up for the challenge reap huge benefits for birds, fish, wildlife, water quality and storage. My own city decided to “live with” some local beavers by installing a flow device that has controlled the pond height for five years. (They aren’t that hard to see!) Now we regularly also see heron, wood duck, otter, steelhead and even mink in our tiny urban stream! We have a yearly beaver festival (http://bit.ly/K42Or4) and work hard to teach other cities that beavers are worth having around. Check out the new issue of the Atlantic Monthly for a reminder!

Remember that trees you want to protect can be wrapped with wire or painted with sand to discourage chewing. Since you’re in Colorado you also have renowned beaver expert Sherri Tippie in Aspen to help with any challenges that might arise.

www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress

(I received a call last night from the Yellowknife paper in the Northwest territories asking to publish my recent letter. It hasn’t run yet, but here is the text in case you’re interested. Aside from Scotland, this is the most distant letter that has ever been published. I’m weirdly pleased.)

Aside from the mayor’s impossibly colorful description of beaver trampolines and residents using ‘rubber paint’ to bounce beavers away from their poplars, I hope Yellowknife has looked for real solutions? Obviously beavers are a keystone species that create essential wetlands for fish, birds, wildlife and important game species. Killing them to protect trees is a little like destroying automobiles to prevent speeding – it works but at what cost? A better solution than chicken wire (since beavers are way bigger than chickens) is to wrap the tree with galvanized steel wire, or less obtrusively to paint it with a latex paint that matches the color of the bark mixed with heavy mason sand. This has to be repeated every year for it to work. Remember that beaver ‘chewed’ trees will still coppice and create ideal bushy nesting habitat for migratory and songbirds. Why not have residents of the lake plant swift-growing willow along the shore to provide an easy food source and better riparian border? Our city made a commitment to tolerate our local beavers 5 years ago and implemented real solutions to the challenges they posed. Now we regularly see heron, steelhead, otter and even mink in our tiny urban stream.

Any city smarter than a beaver can keep a beaver, and those most interested in watershed protection and saving taxpayer dollars know why they should.

Heidi Perryman, Ph.D.

President & Founder

Worth A Dam

Letters to the Editor about beavers isn’t a spectator sport! Anyone can do it! Show us your published letter and Worth A Dam will send you a free beaver thank you!