Category: Educational

“That change is too ‘changey’.”

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's saving beavers now? February 9, 2015

Looks like Ohio has decided to return to its natural shape so our opinion of them won’t need to be adjusted any time soon. Remember that cool story from Yellow Springs where people were advocating for beaver benefits and wanting to coexist? Well apparently Hamlet was right.

virtue cannot

so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it.

Act 3 Scene 1

Or in other words, that council-driven leopard rarely changes its spots.

Council nixes grant for wetland

At their Jan. 20 meeting, Village Council delivered a setback to a group of local environmentalists who sought to develop a management plan for a wetlands on the Glass Farm. The group requested Council’s approval for a federal grant application that would provide funding to help manage the wetland, increase species diversity and also find solutions for flood control and other neighbors’ concerns.

“Yellow Springs could become a model” for how to balance the needs of wildlife and humans in wetlands development, according to Nadia Malarkey, a member of the newly reconstituted Environmental Commission, which sought Council approval for the grant.

But the majority of Council worried that the group was moving too quickly, and that a grant would lock Village government into a project it has not fully embraced, and which may have unintended consequences.

“I don’t think this is a bad idea …” said Village Manager Patti Bates, who recommended against the grant application at this time. “I’m concerned that we’re rushing into this without proper preparation.”

And how much preparation does YS usually take before killing beavers and destroying wetlands? Oh that’s right. None. You were THIS CLOSE to getting this right. It is so frustrating to see how remarkable efforts can still be tossed aside.

The grant would have provided funding for developing a management plan for the area and to purchase fencing that would protect trees, create new flow-devices if necessary to control flooding and remove invasive species, according to the proposal. Overall, the grant-funded activities would enhance efforts to allow beavers and humans to share the area, according to EC member Duard Headley.

However, several Council members feared the grant would pave the way to a commitment to the wetland that they had not signed on for when they approved funding the original “beaver deceiver” flow-through device.

I’m sorry for the derailing of this particular wetlands train bound for glory, but I’ve not run out of hope yet – and you shouldn’t either. These are a smart group of people doing the right thing for the right reasons.

The resulting wetland has led to a significant increase in new species in the area, according to Hennessy, who presented a slideshow of photos of the area taken by neighbor Scott Stolsenberg. The photos show great blue herons, red-winged blackbirds, indigo buntings, great egrets, red-shouldered hawks, grey catbirds, cedar waxwings, green frogs, snapping turtles and other wildlife that live near water.

“Beavers are a keystone species that create an environment that ____supports other species,” Hennessy said. “Most of these species would not be here without the wetlands.”

Several neighbors who support the wetlands spoke in support of the project.

“The change in the last three years has been amazing. It’s like a second Glen,” said Lew Trelawny-Cassity, who said he and his young children enjoy watching the birds and animals. “This is a great place for families. It impacts the neighborhood in a positive way.”

As alarming as change for the better is – it is for the better. Eventually even the city council will see the writing on the wall and have the sense to steal credit for the idea instead of looking stupid and out of touch by preventig it.

Ours did.

I worked yesterday using my ‘negative space beavers’ to put together a short film. I decided to use the audio from Ellen Wohl’s excellent interview on Santa Fe Radio a few years ago. I think it works rather well.

I also talked to Michael Howie of Fur Bearer Defender Radio and Jari Osborne of the beaver documentary about getting my poem recorded in resonant tones so I can make a video. We’ll see but I’m expecting great things.

Finally a bonus prize this morning, because a friend from Florida sent a photo of a mystery bug that research showed was really surprising. I thought you’d be interested.

The Scarlet Bodied Wasp Moth, Cosmosoma myrodora , is a moth species that mimics wasps as a means of survival. Since the harmless moth resembles a stinging wasp, many predators will give leave it alone. Here’s the amazing part: the adult male moth extracts toxins known as ‘pyrrolizidine alkaloids’ from Dogfennel Eupatorium (Eupatorium capillifolium) and showers these toxins over the female prior to mating. This is the only insect known to transfer a chemical defense in this way.”

Beaver Speaks

heidi08 Beaver Anatomy, Beaver Behavior, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? February 8, 2015

Devon’s wild beaver colony to be tagged and named

Devon’s family of wild beavers could become stars of the internet with pet names to match under plans to monitor how the animals live.

Details of a scheme to capture and fit the creatures with coloured ear rings for identification have been revealed, a move that will “inevitably” lead to the creatures being given individual names, conservationists have said.

Devon’s wild beaver colony to be tagged and named

The colony is to be micro-chipped and tagged as part of plans by the Environment Department (Defra) to test the creatures for disease before they are released back to the River Otter by April.

Devon Wildlife Trust has revealed the details of the first trial of its kind in England and Wales to monitor a group in the wild.

Hidden cameras will film the creatures at work and play to observe their habits and make sure they do not damage the landscape or cause annoyance to any of the dozens of nearby landowners

Hmm, I have an idea. Since these are the only supposed beavers in the entire country, how about you could tell them apart from the other beavers that are NOT THERE by just looking. Well, never pass up a choice to put a chip in an animals head appears to be the national motto. It’s better than putting them in the zoo at least, and I’m sure DEFRA wanted radio tags on their tails, so this is kinder. But honestly. Bagged and tagged?

Now I have a treat for you, that I meant to share yesterday. Robert Redford’s Nature is Speaking. Have you seen them? Every single one of these is worth watching, but I’ll just share two. I love how willing he is to squeeze every bit out of his considerable weight to get this done by famous actors. I love how unapologetic and brilliantly harsh they are. Don’t take care of nature because it’s nice or because it’s cute. Nature will take care of itself. Endanger it at your peril.

Don’t you want to see the one about beavers? I’d be happy to do the script.

I’ve been around
in one form or another
for 55 million years.
My ancestors date from the Eocene period
ἠώς (eos, dawn)
I was here before the sunrise
And I’ll be here after it sets
I invented the words “Conserve” and “Recycle”
but I never, ever need to say them.
The lesson you need to learn
I could teach you.
I survived the warmest climate this planet has endured
and the coldest one yet seen.
I was the first to return after the volcanic eruption of Mt St Helen’s
And the nuclear explosion at Chernobyl.
I build mountains without an opposable thumb
walk miles without comfort or shelter
Swim oceans with nothing to drink
Endure winters without food
The only thing I couldn’t survive
was your Greed.
It nearly ended me.
Your Greed is insatiable
And next time,
It won’t be me that it kills.

I love that. Anyone have Mr. Redford’s email address?

Now tonight you might be sitting at home watching the Grammy’s so I thought I’d start you out with a beaver favorite. You know they sing this every time the lithe otters slink by. I’m addicted to this cover. How do we get her to sing at the beaver festival?

mirror mirror — Yearling grooming on dam: Cheryl Reynolds

Afancod to the rescue

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Dispersal, Educational, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? February 1, 2015

All of Great Britain is falling like dominoes into the beaver fever sweeping the nation! Just look at this morning’s article in the BBC.

Beavers’ return to Welsh rivers considered

Beavers could return to Welsh waters later this year centuries after they disappeared. The River Rheidol river in Ceredigion has previously been identified as the preferred location to reintroduce them.

Natural Resources Wales has said work is continuing to assess the results of pilot projects elsewhere in the UK. Supporters say beavers can help prevent flooding, improve water quality and boost biodiversity but farmers’ leaders have voiced concern about their impact.

Tim Jones, executive director of operations for north and mid Wales at Natural Resources Wales, said: “The possibility of reintroducing beavers to Welsh rivers needs serious consideration.

“They have the potential to help us improve the quality of our natural resources including water quality, wildlife and fish populations.

“However, we must also look at the wider effects of reintroducing them, which would include their effects on agriculture, forestry, flood defences amongst other things.

“We are working with a number of partners to look at the evidence on beaver re-introduction and the outcomes of pilot projects elsewhere.

“Once we’ve done this, and are sure that this is the right thing to do, we will look at the options and the practical challenges and benefits of continuing and developing the project further.”

Put a leek in your cap and let’s get ready to welcome the Welsh Beaver! I love these cascading stories, drawing attention to the benefits of beavers. It’s just as well Wales is considering beaver because there isn’t a stop sign big enough to keep them from swimming from Devon across the Bristol Channel (which is only 30 miles across at its widest point) to reintroduce themselves. Congratulations all on this valiant effort!

I have to admit I get a little anxious when folks promise beavers will bring only good news. (Listen to the short report on the website if you are wondering what I mean.) Obviously they can bring trouble too, and I think beavers fair better when we’re honest about that. Folks need to realize that even when they cause problems we’re smarter than beavers. (Or most of us are, anyway.) We can resolve any problem that might arise down the road. And enjoy the benefits while we do.

Great news! Jon saw the kit this morning! (Not officially a yearling for 4 more months). He or She was working on the secondary dam, so that means we have two adults and their offspring hard at work. Remember it’s February and dispersal month. If our yearlings follow the same pattern as the others they will leave sometime this month, bringing our population down to three. Three magical beavers that will start the whole family over again.

And a personal note, OMG it’s February again! Let’s hope I can stay out of the hospital this year.

You are going to LOVE this article…

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental, Recent Sightings, Who's saving beavers now?, Why We Care January 30, 2015

Sorry it’s a few days old, I can’t believe this magic escaped my google alerts! But thanks for Pat Russel bringing it to my attention.

Eager B.E.A.V.ers

It began with a birthday dinner.

Peggy Watters was celebrating alongside her husband, Mike, and friends from the neighborhood when Paul Spindel — the Watters’ next door neighbor — turned to her with a strange request.

For almost five years, Spindel, Watters and other neighbors had been dealing with beavers that had taken residence in the creek behind their homes in the Bolton area. Trees had been destroyed, at times chewed more than halfway through before being cut down, and the Watters were forced to install new barriers around their property after a beaver destroyed one of their pear trees.

But this wasn’t an adversarial relationship. The beavers could be a pain, but Watters, Spindel and fellow neighbor Marla Gaarenstroom were also fascinated by their presence and the domino effect it seemed to have on the ecology of the area.

And so it was that during this birthday dinner, about four months ago, Spindel made his request to Peggy Watters.

“I think you need to get a group going,” he said. “I think we need to do something about this.”

Watters agreed, and B.E.A.V. was born.

B.E.A.V., which stands for “Beaver Environmental Advocacy Volunteers,” is an eight-person group intended to help educate residents on what it means to have beavers in a neighborhood — beyond the obvious tree-chomping problems. On Sunday, B.E.A.V. will host an informational meeting at the West Linn Public Library with special guest Susan Barnes, a conservation biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Be still my heart! A husband who tells his wife to form a beaver group for her birthday! Could there honestly be a better present? To tell the truth this might be the best story I’ve ever read, and that’s saying something. I’m actually JEALOUS. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m thinking B.E.A.V. needs some complimentary Worth A Dam t-shirts stat and maybe a nice bottle of Castoro Cellars chardonnay to celebrate. Ooh how about beaver shortbread cookies in the care box too?

Well, I will try my best to track B.E.A.V. members down and offer our friendship. In the meantime, I’m excited that there’s a new group of beaver supporters on the block. It just makes you think of this doesn’t it?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the [beaver] world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Onto even better news because Jon saw a big beaver carrying a branch onto the secondary dam this morning after which the beaver stopped by to mud it, and Jean saw TWO beavers yesterday. We were watching Wednesday night and saw only the end of our patience, but clearly they’re still in residence and just waiting for whatever beavers wait for to show themselves. And in case it’s been so long since you’ve seen a beaver mudding you need a reminder, here’s a good glimpse from Cheryl Reynolds.

Final thoughts: Just saw this on facebook and had to share. This is Ian Timothy of beaver Creek fame==-[ hard at work in his Sophomore year at Cal Arts. The caption said “best stop motion animator I know” and I’m sure we all agree!

Beaver Reprievers!

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, New Species, Who's Killing Beavers Now?, Who's saving beavers now? January 29, 2015

Reintroduction of European beavers — The Daily Mail lists no credit for this photo, but doesn’t his hair look a lot like our Dad beaver? Maybe it’s an older adult grooming trick.

Campaigners hail beavers reprieve

Natural England said the trial in Devon, which could include introducing other breeding pairs of beavers if they are needed to ensure the genetic diversity of the population, would inform future decisions on releasing beavers in England.

The conservation organisation said the unauthorised release of beavers remains illegal and it does not expect to grant any other licences for releases during the five years of the trial.

Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, said: ” It is wonderful to hear that the first breeding population of beavers in England for hundreds of years is going to be allowed to remain in the wild.

“We know that we can’t bring back all the great animals that the country’s lost – at least not everywhere – but where it is feasible, we owe it to future generations to do so.”

Friends of the Earth campaigner Alasdair Cameron said: ” Beavers add to Britain’s rich natural heritage and can bring huge benefits to the local environment, such as boosting wildlife and reducing flooding risks.

“Thanks to the hard work of thousands of individuals and organisations, our number of native species just increased by one. The next stage is to get the beavers tested and then returned to the River Otter where they can now swim in peace.”

10940505_10153067338108276_7075029466518976942_n — Borrowed from the facebook page of a UK beaver supporter

Congratulations! The good news about Devon is all over the internet(s). I am thrilled that the mysteriously-appearing beavers are going to be allowed to stay, and that they will receive a 5 year study period in safety. The Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Mail all boast triumphant stories this morning. I can only imagine what the sullen angler community looks like tonight, but I’m sure beaver supporters met in gatherings much like this:

Now a quick reminder from our sponsors in Georgia that if you’re going to use explosives to blow up a beaver dam, you should really tell your neighbors, first. No, seriously.

Residents concerned by beaver dam explosions

People hear loud booms in their neighborhoods and want to know what they are coming from. It happened again Wednesday.

Investigators often say those booms are landowners blowing up beaver dams. That is the explanation residents near the Dougherty-Lee County line in the Callaway Lakes area got Wednesday

” But what they need to understand is very seldom does blowing up the dam make the beavers move. If they like the dam if they like that location and like where that dam is, chances are within a weeks time they’ll probably just build the dam back,” said Ben Kirkland

“I’m glad to know what it is., “said Nancy Lawrence.

Lawrence now wishes those who blow up a dam would notify residents in the area beforehand.

“you know a paper in your paperbox or on the flag of your mailbox. Just to know what it was, that would’ve been nice,” said Nancy Lawrence.

Yes it would be so much more polite to let your neighbors know before you explode a family down the street. I guess just cutting off the tails and collecting the bounty makes less noise. (Shudder)

Yesterday we got some new photos from the Napa beaver dam from Rusty Cohn with an exciting new species. The little visitor very kindly posed by a mallard to show us just how small she was. This is a female bufflehead, these ducks are actually usually only seen in bays and lakes. The ducks are great divers and spend at least half their time under the water devouring aquatic insects. Lucky for her there will be lots to chose from at the beaver pond.