Why does no one in the media seem to comprehend the fact that this month we are more likely to see beavers crossing the street, occupying new ditches and hiding in swimming pools? It’s the time when nearly 2 year old beavers head out to seek their fortune, looking for their own territory to settle in. It’s the most dangerous time of a beavers life because he might be without all the things that normally protect him: his colony and his pond. Dietland Muller-Swarze tells us that females actually go farther than males, but ever able beaver must go on their own to seek their fortune. It’s a scary world out there, but sometimes people are merciful. Here are a few lost beaver stories from today’s news.
Lost beaver discovered under car in Cliffsend
A CLIFFSEND resident awoke to a surprise this morning when she discovered a beaver hiding underneath her car.
RSPCA Thanet centre manager Clive Martin was on hand to load the lost animal into a dog crate and transport it to safety.
The beaver may well have taken a wander from Ham Fen nature reserve near Sandwich, where a colony of European beavers live in a specially maintained environment.
Mary Knott, from animal charity Cats in Crisis, said: “I had a call this morning from a lady in Cliffsend who normally calls us regarding injured birds or hedgehogs.
“Imagine my disbelief when she said there was a beaver under her car!
Castor Fiber under a car in Kent! Maybe you’re looking for something more local?
Why did the beaver cross the road?
BANDON — A Bandon couple has a local police officer to thank after a potentially unfortunate event involving an angry beaver was narrowly averted Saturday evening.
Kimberly Jonas, owner of the Book Nook in the Continuum Center in Old Town, was headed home with her husband Lee about 6:30 p.m. after closing shop.
Near the Ferry Creek bridge just east of Face Rock Creamery on U.S. Highway 101, Jonas noticed a large adult beaver in the highway, trying to cross.
It was dark, raining hard with strong winds and low visibility and Jonas was concerned that the beaver, which was apparently trying to get to the creek on the south side of the highway, would get hit by a car.
It is the state animal, after all.
Kimberly called 911 who dispatched a police officer. The officer initially refused to stop traffic and said the beaver would be fine. Kimberly was persistent and he eventually relented, helping the beaver back to the pond.
Officer Tony Byrd arrived on scene but couldn’t be convinced to stop highway traffic to allow the beaver to cross. The beaver would be fine, he said, and didn’t require human assistance.
“I tried to convince him that the beaver needed to get to the creek,” Jonas said. “I told him it was the state animal and that yesterday was the state’s birthday. And I reminded him of images everyone’s seen of police officers leading ducklings across busy intersections.”
It was his opportunity to be a hero.
Finally, Byrd agreed and he and Lee Jonas used branches to shoo the animal — all approximately 50 pounds of it — across the highway while Byrd waved a flashlight to warn motorists.
The beaver slapped its tail loudly on the pavement as it scurried across, then quickly disappeared into Ferry Creek.
The entire incident took about 45 minutes, Jonas said. After which, she burst into tears.
“I just couldn’t leave the beaver there, I just knew it would try to cross the highway again and I was about to form a human chain and get some flares to help it to the creek,” she said.
Kimberly may just be my favorite human EVER! Go Kimberly! Shhh let’s not tell her that the beaver was probably trying to leave that creek and just crawled out again somewhere else. Maybe it was at least farther from the free way.
More good news? I was contacted by the Executive Director of the Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Atlanta Georgia yesterday who happened to have beavers on their wetlands and wanted help presenting good reasons to keep and protect them! We agreed that Georgia was a hard place to be a beaver. Nancy Jones is the founder of the preserve and interested in applying for grant monies to keep beavers on the land. I gave her all the resources I could and put her in touch with beaver friend BK from Georgia so they could work together.
Later in the day I got an email from a beaver advocate in North Dakota who was interested in help educating ranchers about having beavers on their land. I put him in touch with the ‘beaver solution’ film from the Lands Council and made sure he had what he needed. All in all a busy national day for this beaver advocate.
Today’s donation comes from Cathy S. of Yesware in Alberta Canada! Her fun images grace pins and charm bracelets. She was happy to donate and let me chose items from her shop. I had to select this set – out of nine images I only spot one nutria, can you? Thanks Cathy for your support!
