Back in the murky grip of winter, when Californians were waiting for the temperature to drop and East Coasters were trying to remember what the earth looked like under its white blanket, beaver friend Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions in Massachusetts was hatching a plan. He wondered about making a series of DVD’s to train willing people to do sensible beaver management. His idea was to create something accessible and hands-on enough to be used by public works crews and maintenance workers across the nation.
He thought about learning to make the video himself, and asked me if I could help. I told him my video expertise ended at the three minute mark, and I had no experience (or even computer space for!) longer projects. I suggested he talk with some of the wildlife groups in his area, who might have a videographer already as part of their own marketing. Mike talked with the Humane Society and Audubon who were very excited about the project and directed him to apply for the AWI Christine Stevens Grant. Which he did, arguing convincingly that teaching cities to take care of beavers would take care of waterfowl, take care of amphibians, take care of muskrats and minks and otters and improve water quality.
His request had a familiar personal history section that I hadn’t known before, involving his and his wife’s early days as compassionate B&B owners turned volunteers who were trying to save some beavers in their area. They brought in Skip Lisle to help and Mike spent time training with him. You know of course that beavers change things: it’s what they do. Soon Mike’s compassion became a passion, then a career and the B&B was sold and the business of Beaver Solutions was born. It’s a pretty interesting story.
Anyway, back in murky January, he composed his request and he waited.
He waited a long time. Winter is an idle time for a Massachusetts beaver man, with months that he couldn’t get in the water at all, followed by months that he just wished he couldn’t. Last night, after 8 months of waiting, Mike finally got the news.
His grant was awarded! To the tune of 10,000 dollars! Since it didn’t exactly fit the requirement for the Stevens award, the money will be taken from another source, but they said it was a very worthy project and now he can move forward. Just in time for his trip to Juneau at the end of the month when he’ll be helping the mendenhall glacier beavers (remember them?) not wear out their welcome.
This is big big beaver news. If the training series was cheaply available around the country, there would be far fewer excuses for directors of city works everywhere. We are so happy for Mike, and we really couldn’t be more pleased for beavers.
