GEO magazine is a sleek international kind of National Geographic.It is currently published in Germany and France but has moved around the EU fairly deftly.  And last year it had a particularly stunning look at beavers from photographer Ingo Arndt who is struggling to show people the value (and beauty) of these important animals. Remember the beaver population in Europe was destroyed by the middle ages, and reintroduced after some folks started to understand their value. Currently the population has recovered enough to be persecuted, which is a kind of victory.

The beautifully pro-beaver article is called”The Beavers are Back”.

Die Biber sind zurück

My German is pretty much limited to my name, so I relied on Google translate to get an initial read. Basically it describes the valuable work these animals do and how they restore aquatic ecosystems, but farmers hate them and shoot them on site. (As if we needed a translator to know that!) I especially like the paragraph about Bavaria which called them the Gemütlicher Anarchist. Translate the first word as “pleasant or cozy” and the second literally. A pleasant disregard for your rules, roads and infrastructure.

Doesn’t that exactly describe beavers?

Check out that blissful mum lying on her back to let kits nurse. This may be the lodge shot to beat all lodge shots. Not sure what kind of amber lighting they used, but she is obviously feeling safe and maternal. The article contains an interview with Gerhard Schwab, a staunch advocate who traveled with Derek Gow and the Ramsays to the State of the Beaver Conference this year. It ends with the words of a famous German naturalist.

For a moment, the words of pioneering conservationist and beaver friend Michael Succow are remembered: “It’s not about having perfect ecosystems. It’s about leaving dynamic systems in peace.” The beaver is one of its messengers.

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For other gasp worthy news this morning, there is this out of winters. Do not adjust your screen. This following is not an illusion.

 Getting photo of piebald beaver was challenging

I live in Winters, a small town in northern California, with less than 8,000 residents. With a large lake and a creek near Winters, agricultural areas and a small human population, it’s perfect for wildlife to appear in this area. I wasn’t prepared for what I found that afternoon along Putah Creek.

 I saw something moving in the water close to the ravine. My first thought was that someone’s pet escaped. At first glance it looked like some sort of rodent, maybe a guinea pig… but then I quickly realized that I was in the presence of something truly amazing: a piebald beaver!

This beavers home is slated for bulldozing, and there is much concern and little chance he will be saved. When something this rare happens there is always hesitation about publicizing it in case it draws trappers. But things have progressed to the point that they are ready to risk publicity. Maybe you can write the mayor and city council to let them know how special this is.

And in the mean time, here’s some kit-licious footage from Rusty Cohn in Napa. It’s all wonderful, but I’m starting it where the two kits eat side by side. Just in case I haven’t shown you enough beautiful beaver images today.
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