I love the look and sound of this event. I have always wanted to live in a beaverhood. Haven’t you?

Building a Beaver HOOD Overview, Orientation, and Field Training

Join us for this thematic overview and hands-on workshop where the Beaver Works Oregon team will introduce the “BeaverHOODs” concept and educate on the purpose and execution of our beaver habitat restoration efforts in Central and Eastern Oregon.

If you’re planning to participate in a Spring beaver habitat field project, please be sure to also sign up for this training day. It will be useful!

This workshop will be around two hours and take place half indoors (presentation) and half outdoors (training) at The Environmental Center. RSVP to reserve your spot!

Oh my goodness! I want to be part of the BEAERHOOD! Where do I sign up?

Time for a state fossil in Minnesota. What? You didn’t know there was such a thing? Well listen up.

Giant beaver could become Minnesota’s official state fossil this year

A bill before lawmakers would name the Castoroides Ohioensis, also known as the giant beaver, as Minnesota’s official state fossil.

The giant beaver became extinct around 10,000 years ago, but once reached lengths of up to 7 feet and weighed up to 200 pounds. As the largest rodent ever in North America, it also would have existed with the first people ever to settle in Minnesota, according to a representative from the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Minnesota is one of only four states without a current state fossil designation.

Wait just a doggone minute there. Does California have a state fossil? Why yes it does. The saber-toothed cat, Okay I guess it’s a thing.

What they’re saying:

“I see state symbols as a wonderful educational opportunity, where we can introduce new things to our kids as they’re growing up,” said Dr. Alex Hastings of the Science Museum of Minnesota during the House State Government Finance and Policy Committee on Thursday.

According to Hastings, the science museum carried a vote two years ago in order to make a nomination decision on what the fossil should be, with the giant beaver receiving more than 11,000 submissions.

Minnesota is currently one of only four states that does not have a designated state fossil.

“There was a very clear winner – none other than the giant beaver,” Hastings said before the committee. “One of the fascinating things about this animal is not only was it the largest rodent ever in North America, it also would have existed with the first people settling in Minnesota. There’s even some folklore that suggests some personal interactions with them.

I first heard about this a while ago when Emily Fairfax posted about the castoroides brew label being developed in St Paul.

I guess if you spend sometime promoting what beavers are NOT anymore you might be able to highlight all that they are.

A skeleton of the giant beaver is currently on display at the Science Museum of Minnesota – found just seven miles from St. Paul, Hastings said.

Historians believe the giant beaver was far larger than the current common beaver – reaching lengths of up to 7 feet and weighing up to 200 pounds.

Common beavers seen today are around 31 to 47 inches in length, and weigh around 24 to 66 pounds.

The bill would also include indigenous translations as part of the designation.

Well I guess it’s going to happen. I love my castoroides skull. Maybe now school children will collect them!

Unlike modern beavers that make dams and lodges, scientists believe the giant beaver was unable to adapt to the changing landscape.

What’s next:The bill was laid over by the committee on Thursday for possible inclusion in a larger collection of bills – known as an omnibus bill – to be approved later in the legislative session.

St Patrick is celebrated for driving the snakes out of Ireland. Maybe Starlight Baptist church will be remembered for trapping the beavers out of Alabama.

Beaver builds a dam that floods Starlight Baptist Church

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – Starlight Baptist Church has a unique pest problem. Beavers have made a dam underneath a railroad sewage drain causing flooding in the area.

• • Mobile looking to control nuisance beavers

The Original Starlight Baptist Church was established In 1867. The church will be celebrating its 158th anniversary this coming weekend. Pastor Joseph Barren Sr. told Fox 10 how concerning this flooding is starting to become.

“We have this problem this flooding problem. Out of the 26 years I have been here I’ve never had this much water before. I had no idea that beavers were out there, but this is what I was informed that this was a beaver problem that was causing the dam up under the railroad track.”

I sure hope you’re sitting down, because this is going to come as a huge shock. It turns out that beaver dams in England affect brown trout pretty much the same way as they affect trout in America! Who could possibly have seen that coming? Not me that’s for sure. Next you’ll be telling me that gravity works the same way in China that it does in Wyoming and we know that’s not true because they are upside down!

Brown trout proven to successfully navigate beaver dams

Findings are published in the journal PLOS One.

The research monitored trout movements in two streams in Scotland — one modified by a series of four beaver dams and the other unaltered.

The scientists observed the trout as they navigated the barriers during critical spawning periods (October to December). The fish were tracked using telemetry technology, where trout are tagged with microchips that are read by antennae spanning the dam structures.

The researchers found that high river flows, triggered by rainfall, significantly increased the likelihood of successful upstream passage. Additionally, larger fish had greater success at navigating the dams. Conversely, during low flow periods, beaver dams posed a more significant obstacle, delaying or sometimes preventing trout movement upstream.

Dr Robert Needham, Restoration Manager at Beaver Trust and former University of Southampton researcher, said: “Our findings highlight how adaptable brown trout are under favourable conditions, regularly passing beaver dams and with certain individuals making multiple repeat passes. However, as climate change continues to bring warmer and drier weather, the risk of migratory barriers may become a concern on certain rivers.”

I don’t know about you but I am GOBSMACKED that the trout across the pond can make it over those nasty monster beaver dams just like they can in America. Who would have guessed?

I guess it has something to do with water flow though. Fish need water. I’m totally shocked about that.

“Our findings indicate how fish response to river modification through the construction of dams by beaver can be nuanced,” says Professor Paul Kemp, the project lead at the University of Southampton. “In general, and if rivers are allowed to respond naturally, the benefits of beaver activity can be substantial from an ecological perspective. However, under some circumstances beaver dams can pose barriers to fish movement, particularly under low flows.

“More research is now needed to understand how beaver dams might impede fish movements in more modified lowland rivers, such as in the south of England.”

True. Our research shows that water mostly runs downhill. But there’s evidence that if there’s a little bump it can stop flowing for a while. More research is needed.

Please give me a grant.