Yesterday, as you know, was international beaver day. And it was a fun beavery day, with lots of feedback about my video, and good donations to the festival, which I almost forgot still happens. And then. Out of the blue. This happened on facebook.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
April 7 is International Beaver Day! This amazing semi-aquatic rodent is native to our state. Throughout California, the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) serves an important role as a keystone species and “ecosystem engineer.” Though their natural behaviors – such as felling trees to create dams – may be perceived as negative for some people, beaver activity significantly benefits other native species in California. For example:
- Beaver dams can improve water quality, control water downstream and reconnect streams to their floodplains.
- Beavers can support habitat restoration by expanding wetland, riparian and wet meadow habitats.
- Beavers can increase wildfire resiliency in some areas by creating ponds and flooded areas.
- Beavers can provide habitat for other native species (plants and animals).
I SWEAR TO GOD. With Cheryl famous photo and all. I am not making this up.
CDFW supports a comprehensive approach to beaver management through the implementation of various nature-based solutions, such as restoration projects that support beaver conservation. Learn more about those efforts, as well as science, research, laws and regulations related to beavers on CDFW’s Beaver webpage: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Beaver
Looking for resources and tips about how to address potential human-beaver conflict and prevent property damage? Check out our Human-Wildlife Conflict Program webpage: https://wildlife.ca.gov/…/Wildlife-Health/HWC-Program
I honestly felt faint for the first half hour after reading that. Then I felt very very excited. Pushing CDFW to acknowledge beaver importance has been like pushing a huge granite boulder covered in spikes up a very steep hill. It has been slower than I ever dreamed possible. And has wilted some of our best efforts and friends. But I thought, when I read this, well maybe we’re just a little closer to the down hill side.
Where it starts rolling on its own.
Now when I read it again I feel a little annoyed that they didn’t say anything about flow devices to fix flooding issues. They should have said more. They should have credited Cheryl’s photo which is basically proof that flow devices work. They is so much more that they could be doing…
But still…
