You know, every so often, since our kits didn’t make it last year, I try to tell myself that it really isn’t that important. We’ve had two happy generations. We were extraordinarily lucky. I’ve got to see all those family members grow and interact, and I’m more blessed with beaver contact than most other humans on the planet. The important thing, I try to tell myself, is that the beavers have taught so many people so much. Mom is growing older and its hard work taking care of kits and if we never get babies again that will be okay. And then, ahem, we get this.
And I know how much it means and how gloriously happy it makes me to see new faces swimming about the pond. My heart is so much lighter and suddenly I am less worried about mom and the gulf and the food supply. There isn’t a better morning than discovering two new kits in Alhambra Creek. Two! I’ve never seen two at once to start with, but I was lucky today. It’s June 9th, perfect timing if you look at the last sightings. One slightly larger than the other, both trying to act like they knew what they were doing, pretty awful divers, bobbing like corks in the water and making ripples as wide as a school of tuna with their artless skills. One went into the lodge first and the second hung around trying things out and letting me do a little filming. Then he/she glide-lumbered off as well, leaving me very excited to come back and download my footage!
Thank you mom and dad for doing just the right thing to feed and take care of them. Mom’s been looking less groomed lately and we’ve been worried about that. I see now that’s because she’s using the remaining oil from her castor gland to groom the kits instead, so they’ll be waterproof and ready for action. She’s taking care of their needs and not her own, as mothers everywhere have done since the beginning of time. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for their remarkable parenting.
Congratulations Martinez! It’s two beavers!
UPDATE: just got word that the footage was on channel 7 and the broadcaster said “so cute”. ahhhh now that’s news you can use!
UPDATE I: Lisa at the Contra Costa Times announces the news. Thanks Lisa!
UPDATE II: Carolyn Jones of the SF Chronicle just called and will run a story tomorrow.
UPDATE III: Former Gazette editor, Richard Parks adds his voice on the bay citizen.
UPDATE IV: Martinez Gazette adds it voice to the chorus.
