Maybe you remember the horrific news report from Berriens County Georgia about the “pied piper” solution to get rid of the beaver problems by having a”kill contest” for the most tails cut off. After writing everyone I could think of, I eventually hit upon a solution that settled my heart. I decided the original artwork from earthday 2008 needed to be in the hands of the short-sighted commissioners. I also wanted it to come from one of their own people. Luckily I have a friend of a friend in the state, and was able to send her the pictures and have her send them to the commissioners.
Not surprisingly, the commissioners never wrote us back, but the friend sent this issue of the Spring Newsletter of Georgia Forest Watch, which, surprise surprise! Has an article all about the value of beavers in the watershed! In my very demanding opinion its a woeful undersell of beaver benefits and doesn’t say enough about birds and wildlife, but being as it comes from the very state that recently reduced me to tears, I admit I couldn’t be happier! I dropped them a line of thanks and encourage you all to do the same. Maybe it’s time for a new bumper sticker: Friends don’t let friends kill beavers.
In praise of Castor Canadensis,
the ever-industrious North American Beaver
Finally, it is worth noting that beaver work for free and can assist
forest managers to attain specific wildlife goals in an age of tight
budgets. The active management approach to forest restoration
can benefit from embracing the primary ecological role of beavers
across the public landscape, gaining the many benefits of this
remarkable creature at an economic savings to the taxpayer. A win
for beaver and human.
Darren Wolfgang: Staff Ecologist Forest Watch
It’s a nice introduction to some ideas Martinez has a lot of familiarity with! I sent them information about Mike’s upcoming DVD as well, so they can add to their list of solutions. Go check it out. Its delightful to know that there are thoughtful and compassionate watershed, wildlife and forestry stewards all across the country. Sometimes, when you read too much about the ‘beaver-killing-fields’, it’s easy to forget that.
