![falling_grand_piano_cd_cover_by_kvirtanen[1]](https://www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/falling_grand_piano_cd_cover_by_kvirtanen1.jpg)
So you recognize this picture?
I usually post it before the beaver festival when several good things are happening in a row that I did not possibly foresee or imagine. I am used to learning into the wind, dreaming of what might be, striving for change, working hard to get what I so desperately want. I am completely disoriented by unexpected good news that is outside my reckoning whatsoever. And I feel eerily like something bad will happen.
Yesterday started out well enough by getting an email from Mike Carlson of the Contra Costa County Flood Control. He presented at the same workshop I did for the Salmonid Restoration Federation. He said that my presentation had been wonderful and asked me to think about doing it for the County-wide symposium next year, with an attendance of about 250 people.
This was thrilling news. Mike is the new Mitch at CCCFC, and I was very happy he got to hear my talk because persuading the new Mitch about beavers was one of my 792 goals. (The original Mitch Avalon was on the beaver subcommittee). So for him to want me to present to all of Contra Costa was wonderful, but certainly not beyond my most avid hopes. Also the two beaver depredation permits that were issued in Martinez were requested by CCCFC and it would be an ideal place to educate.
Adding to this, it was far in the future, and not conflicting with anything else. A perfect amount of good news. So far so good,
Then I got the email from John Sikora, the Vice President of the El Dorado chapter of Trout Unlimited. They are planning their big State wide meeting for all the chapter heads in California next month in Coloma. And he wanted to know if I would present to all the Trout Unlimited presidents in California about beaver.
I had an unbelievable conversation with John who knew everything about Michael Pollock’s research, hypoheic exhange, beavers and salmonids and riparian restoration. He wanted all the chapters to know it too. It’s at an insanely busy time and I’m being asked at the last possible minute. Obviously their original speaker broke a leg fly fishing or something, but would I be willing to do it?
You ‘re dam right I would.
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Now this morning is bedecked with the good news that the Devon beavers have all been cleared of the imaginary disease and re-released.
England’s only wild beavers returned to their Devon river home
The only wild beavers in England have been released back into their river home in Devon after being given a clean bill of health.
The beavers were temporarily captured for disease testing from the River Otter, where they have been living wild for at least three years and possibly up to a decade.
Experts at Devon Wildlife Trust, which has been given a licence to monitor and manage the population, said they were “delighted and relieved” that the beavers were disease-free and were being returned to the river.
The return to the river signals the start of the River Otter Beaver Project, a partnership led by Devon Wildlife Trust and involving Clinton Devon Estates, Derek Gow Consultancy and the University of Exeter.
The project will measure the impact of the animals on the local landscape, economy, communities and wildlife, with information presented to Natural England at the trial’s end in 2020 for a decision on their future.
Whoohooo! I couldn’t be happier! Well, maybe a little happier if Devon celebrates with its first beaver festival. Just look at this comment I snagged off the English beavers facebook page this morning by Sylvia Meller}
Now we have to continue spreading the word about the good the beavers are doing, get locals involved like Heidi has been doing in America. Get the kids interested first, so the parents and grandparents get drawn into it via them. Have some activities, a festival ……The options are endless, just have to get things going!
Ohh. Will someone please save this for my eulogy? It is everything I wanted to achieve. Thank you so much Sylvia. And thank you Devon Wildlife Trust for stepping up for this important work. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
And lastly there is one piece of VERY IMPORTANTLY GOOD NEWS that I am dying to share this morning, but am sworn to secrecy. Stay tuned.You don’t want to miss out.
Believe me when you hear it you’ll be looking for that piano too.
