Category: City Reports

Another Dam Cam…

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beaver News, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Environmental, featured, Who's Killing Beavers Now? October 16, 2011

Well, lodge cam to be exact about it. This one is in Tamarac National Refuge in Minnesota. For most of the land beavers are given free range and have even been allowed to build an 8 foot dam.

One big beaver dam in Tamarac –8 feet tall and growing

10-16-beaver-dam-3-cmyk — This beaver dam at Tamarac Refuge is 8 feet tall and some 30 feet long. Read the article: One big beaver dam in Tamarac -- 8 feet tall and growing

There are roughly 200 beaver families and lodge structures inhabiting the Tamarac National Wildlfe Refuge, according to a spring 2011 survey by refuge researchers.

Those beavers have constructed hundreds, maybe even thousands of dams on the refuge’s 42,700-plus acres — but there is one such structure that towers, quite literally, above the rest.

The Aschbacher Beaver Dam, so named for the refuge volunteer who discovered it, Pete Aschbacher, stands more than eight feet high at its apex and spans approximately 30 yards in length.

Nice. Tamarac recently got a grant to install a lodge camera which the beavers promptly removed. They’re hoping to have it replaced soon, but in the mean time they think they’re the first ones to try this and are busily re-inventing the wheel instead of asking for help. I made sure to write them that there is at least ONE other successful lodge cam operated on forestry lands and pointed them towards the one in Tongass national forest– which is apparently now an underwater cam aimed at the plunge hole.

Here’s some lodge footage they took last year when it was working:

Well its nice that Tamarac recognizes these beavers as a benefit to their refuge, but don’t plan to retire their yet, apparently their welcome sometimes include the other kind of ‘open arms’.

Such structures are rarely tampered with; there are other dams, however, that lessen or completely block critical water flow through culverts and natural drainage areas. This can cause flooding or even road washouts in various parts of the refuge and surrounding areas.

High water can also threaten wild rice habitat; “Then, we have to remove them,” Deede said. He typically employs three methods of dam removal, depending on the severity of the problem: By hand, with a backhoe, or using explosives.

Deede took the necessary training to be certified for explosives use, though he does not take on such projects outside refuge property. He must take a refresher course once every three years.

Sometimes, beavers prove so resistant to removing the dams in these critical areas that they must be removed as well. In these instances, paid trappers or shooters are brought in to remove the animals; such cases are rare, however.

What, ripping out the dams doesn’t work? Wow you must have the very rare REBUILDING beaver species. That almost always never happens. If you are looking for real solutions to controlling waterheight and protecting culverts to manage behavior of the focal species introduced in Washington DC this year as one of three key players to watch in federal lands across the nation, then try here or here or here and tell Deede to stop playing with matches.

We’ll be happy to see the lodge cam when its up! In the mean time, readers might enjoy visiting the new feature on the website in the task bar at the top called “Solutions” which goes through primary beaver dilemmas and how to solve them. Cheryl checked out the amazing beaver habitat in Benicia we talked about this weekend and found three lodges! Also last night we visited a UCB grad student at the beaver dam who is looking for a dissertation on the ecology of beaver ponds in California. We had LOTS to talk about! I’m hoping we can get her to repeat Glynnis Hood’s beaver pond floor differentiations as a cause of biodiversity with some temperate beavers. Stay tuned!

Connecting the DOT’s

heidi08 Beaver News, Beavers, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Who's Killing Beavers Now? October 15, 2011

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WTNH) – Several homes and businesses in Old Saybrook are flooded with more than four feet of water after the removal of a beaver dam.

According to the Old Saybrook Fire Department, many homes along the intersection of Route 1 and Route 154 are flooded.The state’s Department of Transportation partially removed the dam because of a clogged culvert.

Yes you heard it here first, REMOVAL of a beaver dam can cause flooding. Who knew? Apparently not the Deparment of Transportation (DOT) folks who ripped debris outta that culvert. They had no idea all those homes would be in four feet of water in a few hours. Now they’re saying that there must have been OTHER culverts blocked too! But who could POSSIBLY have guessed that? since beavers never build more than one dam in an area!

Except that they do. And DOT spends enough time destroying beavers and their dams to have a wing named after it so they should have known better. And call me suspicious but I don’t believe they would have ever done this next to a wealthy neighborhood or a powerplant. Well, the waters gone now anyway. And the beavers too probably. Maybe the folks in CT will connect the DOTs and hold them accountable for incredibly bad planning, but my guess is that the problem will be blamed on beavers and they’ll just promise to kill more next time.

Am I the only one who wonders where this is where the term ‘dotty‘ comes from?

Friends Near and Far

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental October 14, 2011

look what i did — Beaver kit enjoys freshly chopped willow 2007: Perryman

Ahh memories. This story brings it all back.

Looks like Benicia State Park has beavers again. I’m not hearing any threat in this article, but we know the colony mysteriously diassapeared once so it would be good to keep an eye and ear out this time. The story of beavers at the park preceeds our Martinez beavers, but I’m enjoying the fantasy that at least one of the beavers in this colony is our disperser – all grown up and doing what mom and dad taught him or her!

The author spotted a freshly felled tree on the trail of the State Park. He appears surprised that folks weren’t more upset by the very natural action and writes,

Later I told the story of the tree killed by the beavers to Wolfram Alderson, executive director of the Benicia Tree Foundation. Here, I’m thinking, is someone who appreciates the value of trees, and wonder if he will object? Instead he smiles at me and says “Really, in Benicia?” We’ve all heard of the Martinez beavers, and the controversy they have engendered in our neighboring community. Benicia is not threatened by flooding the way Martinez is, so we can remain unconcerned about it.

For the record, the ‘proclaimed controversy’ consisted of a few powerful property owners, a handful of flood-fearing businesses and a council who wanted them dead, against EVERYONE ELSE. I guess that’s a ‘controversy’ in the same way that a single drop of food coloring turns a glass of water blue. Anyway it’s a fun article, which you should go read. And the next time Benicia needs beaver photos they should come to US! Sheesh!

Another mention comes from the Watershed Project in Richmond. I connected them years ago and somehow ended up receiving their newsletter. Look what’s in the latest issue.

Ana Weidenfeld’s brief article covers the basics. As beaver articles go it’s fairly luke warm but they do recommend coming to Martinez to see them for yourself, which is nice.

If you are in the mood to watch these fastidious and fun mammals at work, head into Martinez. The beavers are nocturnal, so make sure to bring your flashlight and go out in the early morning or late evening hours.

And a final note from Estes Park in Colorado, where you might remember a brave advocate wrote a letter to the editor about the irony of killing beavers to build a trail in the hometown of Enos Mills. It prompted my response, which apparently was printed.

Words from the past

Bill Melton raised the pointed question about what Enos Mills would say about removing a beaver dam to install a trail. The best way to answer that question is to go to the source. This is from his “In Beaver World,” which was written nearly a hundred years to go from his cabin in Estes Park.

“The dam is the largest and in many respects the most influential beaver work. Across a stream it is an inviting thorough fare for the folk of the wild. As soon as a dam is completed, it becomes a wilderness highway. It is used day and night. Across it go bears and lions. rabbits and wolves, mice and porcupines; chipmonks use it for a bridge, birds alight upon it, trout attempt to leap it and in the evening the deer cast their reflections with the willows in its quiet pond. Across it dash the pursuer and the pursued. Upon it take place battles and courtships. Often it is torn by hoof and claw. many a drama, romantic and picturesque, fierce and wild is staged upon the beaver dam. The Beaver dam gives new character to the landscape. It frequently alters the course of a stream and changes the topography. It introduces water into the scene. It nourishes new plant life. It brings new birds. It provides harbor and a home for fish throughout the changing seasons. It seizes sediment and soil from the rushing waters and it sends waters through subterranean ways to form and feed springs which give bloom to terraces below.”

p.74 Enos Mills In beaver World

Estes Park happens to be the home town of my hero, and I am from the home town of his hero. Enos Mills was the guest of John Muir here in Martinez in 1908. He well understood that an essential part of conservation work was done every night by the beaver. We would be happy to help you manage the pond in a way that takes care of your beavers.

Heidi Perryman, Ph.D. President and founder, Worth A Dam. martinezbeavers.org/wordpressMartinez, Calif.

And prompted this reply from the original author

Dear Editor:

Special thanks to Tom Gootz and the other members of the Trail and Beaver Pond committee for working with EVRPD and the contractor to attempt to find a solution, suitable to everyone, with regards to the beaver pond and dam on Fish Creek Road. It appears that the beaver will be the losers.

I better understand now that some citizens feel that the beaver cause damage to the community and should be relocated. But construction this fall, which the committee attempted to extend to next spring, is not the answer. The beaver will most likely abandon the site and be left to the plight of the winter for their future. Sad for the beaver and sad for the Estes Valley.

I was most pleased that Dr. Heidi Perryman of Martinez, Calif., read my “letter to the editor” of earlier this summer where I said, “What would Enos Mills do”? Dr. Perryman, who states that her hero is Mr. Mills, quoted from his book, “In Beaver World.” She also offered her company’s assistance (Worth A Dam) to manage the pond and take care of the beavers.

What’s the rush EVRPD? Why not contact Dr. Perryman and let the committee take another shot at helping to save the beaver? Enos Mills was a very wise man when it came to the ways of nature and man. Let’s take a moment to stop and reflect on his long ago comments that today are still very relevant to the future of our beloved Estes Park Valley.

Bill Melton Estes Park

Worth A Dam a company? Well, we do vacuum when we have the gang over to dinner to talk about beavers, that’s like “company” right? Honestly all the answers you need are on the website but if you can’t find the solution Sherri Tippie is about an hour away, so let her come show you how to protect your trails AND your beavers.

The Trappings

heidi08 Beaver News, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Environmental October 13, 2011

But I have that within which passeth show;

These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

Hamlet: Act I Scene ii

Before the beavers came to Martinez I didn’t much think about trapping or trappers. I never chained myself to a fur store or threw paint on a stole in protest. I probably thought more about the mistreatment of lab rats and rhesus monkeys (and some particularly unlucky Scotty dogs) in grad school, but I never really paid that much attention to the issue.

Of course that changed post-beaver. For years now I have reviewed articles that are both wistful and admiring about the “lowly” trapper. There seems to be an allure of the lost mountain men and a sense that killing beavers or foxes is as much apart of America’s heritage as a re-enactment of a particular battle in the Civil War, which may be true. There are trappers who become beaver experts and start advocating for them, like Grey Owl and Connecticut’s Skip Hilliker, and trappers who just think they’re beaver experts and spend their time spreading lies about them, like the charmer in MA, or the one in PA who said he was only killing the ‘soldier beavers‘.

I try not to react from an emotional place, and to stay focused on the fact that trappers are real people who need to earn a living and ultimately they may become the people who install the flow devices as public opinion shifts. Still, every now and then a trapping image or pronouncement is so stunningly horrific to me it catches me totally off guard. Yesterday, for example, a trapper that gets no link contacted me and said he’d invented a new form of live trap and was I interested. His youtube channel showed a battlefield of beavers, and I thought really? I suggested he talk to Sherri Tippie and he wrote back that he had but that she was very unreasonable. This morning she wrote an animated response describing his trapping devotions and putting voice to my private misgivings.

Sometimes seeing these grisly images can be like a black and white photo from the holocaust, which I even hesitate to type because it implies that I think the actions are morally equivalent or their impact is the same – which I don’t. But it can be throat-closingly, indescribably, shocking – especially when I don’t expect it. Somehow I think the very existence of that shock is offensive to some people, so that they deliberately mock it or provoke it like a young boy on the playground chasing his screaming classmate with the a dead lizard. Remember Josh’s aunt? And her remark that PETA members made excellent coats?

For the record, I don’t think we should set fires to fur warehouses or butcher stores and I also don’t think we should rely reflexively on killing to solve problems. I’ve noted before that the way we treat animals has become a kind of “false populism” where we identify which ‘tribe’ we belong to by whether or not we kill the intruder or discourage it. But this kind of tribal identification is essentially false -because we personally know there are all kinds of hunters with compassion and plenty of PETA-types without it. People are more complicated than tribes and our attitudes towards wildlife are a reflection of that complication and evolving all the time based on whether we believe we have realistic options or not.

So this week’s AP article on the pros and cons of trapping is valiant nondiscussion of the issues: you know the type – some say the earth is round, some flat, what do you think? It describes what some trappers say and describes what some members of the animal saving group Born Free says and never discusses once the issue of wildlife management in a realistic way or whether we have other tools than extermination in our arsenal. It prompted some fiery push back from the trappers in PA which prompted one of my favorite outdoor writers to reiterate his support for trapping, which prompted me to write him in frustration saying something about everything looking like nails to men with only hammers…

Which brings us to the review in Fur Taker Magazine Sept 2011, (and no, I’m not kidding). It’s actually a positive recommendation of Mike Callahan’s Beaver solutions DVD by trapper Stephen Vantassel, which only makes sense only if we admit we’re living in a post-tribal world.

I have been a long fan of beaver pipes or beaver flow devices ever since I became convinced of their effectiveness in the late 1990s. Unfortunately a lot of people within the wildlife damage management community, including fur trappers, see these devices as threats to their way of life. I would argue that there is no necessary reason to think this way. I suggest it is better to view the pipes as just another tool in the toolbox for doing wildlife management.

Good for you, Stephen. He of course goes on to mention crazy animal rights people just so readers know he’s STILL ONE OF THE TRIBE but its hard work crossing the aisle these days so I thank you for it. In the meantime, take a lesson from the world of beavers and talk reasonably to someone who’s not in your tribe today.

LOCAL UPDATE:

Remember the big storm back in March that wiped out the lodge and blew away the filter on Skip’s flow device? Well Moses brought it back and its been sitting in the corp yard. We’ve been watching to see when the pipe would be plugged (the filter stops the beavers from feeling the suction and plugging the pipe) and I figured since it didn’t happen all summer with it would probably happen after the first rain. Which it did. I took this photo yesterday morning with no movement coming out of the pipe. So it has to be fixed because the dam will rise and is rising. Dave Scola says that city staff will be replacing the filter themselves any day now. So let me know if you see anything.The good news is that its winter so whatever happens the beavers will get the water back.

Leftovers for Breakfast

heidi08 Beaver News, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, City Reports October 12, 2011

I couldn’t resist looking for other mentions of the beaver-mural-teapot-tempest-fest so I raided the google. Lucky for the city the story cleverly broke at the end of the month so there are only two pages of articles under “October News”. But if you wander about a bit, there are lots of odd treasures to be found.

Close to home the Bay-Area Observer got my attention with this nice introduction

You’ve got to feel for artist Mario Alfaro, whom Martinez officials last week ordered to paint over the beaver he included on a public mural because some of the town’s leaders didn’t think it belonged on the same canvas as hometown heroes John Muir and Joe DiMaggio. (That’s the mural, before the beaver was painted over, from the pro-Beaver MartinezBeavers.org’s blog, Worth a Dam. You almost have to squint to see it near the lower right corner.)

Thanks for the shout-out Ron! We appreciate our beaver brothers by the bay! There’s also the quirky animal-symbology and UFO blog collection by Regan which includes this:

I wasn’t sure where to post this (maybe I’ll post it at Pulp Jello which badly needs to be updated anyway) but since it has to do with animals, in a round about way, sort of, I’m posting it here. It seems art has offended bureaucrats in Martinez, Calif who commissioned an artist to paint a mural for the city. They demanded the artist, Mario Alfaro, paint over a beaver he included in the mural:

Or this oddly worded (I assume translated?) piece on the Global Topic Blog here

Officials in Martinez, Calif., systematic an artist to paint over a picture of a beaver he enclosed in a picture he was consecrated to emanate for a city. Martinez officials pronounced they had artist Mario Alfaro paint over a beaver since a animal, while dear by city residents, does not go on a downtown picture alongside images of Martinez locals including John Muir and Joe DiMaggio, a San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday. “Everyone’s observant we hatred beavers, though this is not about fondness beavers or not fondness beavers,” Public Works Director Dave Scola said. “We went by a extensive formulation process, and never once did anyone ask for a beaver. Not one chairman said, ‘Hey, we have an idea, let’s put a beaver in there.’”

A San Francisco Chronicle? Which one have I been reading? And I guess if the ‘chairman’ doesn’t say it, then don’t come crying to us! The thought of that sentence coming directly from our DPW is so enjoyable I may have to read the article aloud again and again.

Looking for that picture seemed to get a lot of folks to the website, and its always nice to have visitors, even the kind you wouldn’t necessarily invite to stay for dinner. This rough and tumble thread at Livejournal – (most of which reminded me why members of the 14 year old male community don’t actually have many dates) – eventually made me smile at this post under the handle ‘Layweed’:

“The mural’s like 3 feet high and on the side of a fricken fence? Good grief, I thought it was like a wall mural or something. Someone really hates beavers.”

Yes, Layweed. Yes they do.

So much so that I’m pretty sure the only beaver mural that would ever be approved in Martinez is this one from the Washington Post office, this is a study for its design on file with the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. It’s titled “Trapper with Beaver”.