One of the most popular exhibits at our beaver display is this furry finger puppet from Folkmanis. I have struggled to keep him out of the coat pockets of many an adoring child, and given several as gifts. One went to appreciative beaver-expert Skip Lisle and is now enjoying the summer in Vermont. Believe it or not, I first purchased mine in Juneau Alaska, when the time away from our beavers was beginning to take its toll. Others I gave as “Welcome aboard gifts” to the members of Worth A Dam. A final specimen sat on my notebook during most of the subcommittee meetings, and it was an electric day when a certain beaver-unfriendly attorney accidentally knocked him down and had to gingerly pick him up and place the stuffed critter back where he came from.
Recently I wrote Folkmanis, which is based in nearby Emeryville, to ask whether they had heard about the Martinez beavers and would consider helping Worth A Dam by making these finger puppets available to us at cost. Worth A Dam could sell them to beaver fans, raising money for beaver maintenance. I was delighted by the response and learned that they were animal lovers who had followed the beaver saga closely and would be thrilled to help out! There are a few details to take care of, but expect to see these little critters for sale soon either at our display and/or the local merchants. It never fails to surprise me how many people have heard of this story and been affected by the beavers and the humans lives they have touched. The other evening we met a family from Indiana who were visiting relatives in the area and specifically asked to be taken to the beavers “they had seen on Fox news.” I can assure you they weren’t disappointed. Help us keep collecting stories of beaver recruits and write with anything you encounter. In the meantime, check out Folkmanis’ remarkable collection and website, which is a lot of good fun and not just for children.
