I think on this memorial day in addition to remembering the heroes who gave their lives we should take 5 minutes to remember fallen beavers as well. Think about it, they were trying to give us great service and struck down in the line of duty. No one can count all the beavers that died in the fur trade, or by depredation since, but Martinez has 13 beavers to remember on memorial day. The 4 2015 kits and the yearling, the 4 2009 kits, three yearlings that died from round worm parasite in 2oo8, and mom in 2010. That’s a lot of beavers.
5 minutes isn’t much out of a whole day. I just wanted to reflect for a moment on our unlucky number.
Now, it’s time for good news about the upcoming talk I’ll be doing at Marin Audubon in 10 days. They came out with their newsletter yesterday and Martinez is on the front page. Let’s hope that it not only drags out curious folks on a Thursday evening, but generates support for the Marin beaver reintroduction plan. It will take a second to load, but be patient. (You can zoom in on the article using the + sign.)
More good news, this time from Rusty Cohn of Napatopia. He ran into a couple from France last night looking for an American beaver sighting!
I met a young couple (from France?) who did some research as they wanted to see a Beaver. They said they checked the internet and found Worth a Dam and ended up in Napa. They had been to Canada and no Beaver sighting, Yellowstone maybe a glance and then got to Napa where they got to stand and watch one for 15 minutes or more and even saw two swimming together. Thought you might get a kick out of this. There was also a Great Blue Heron and Black Crowned Night Heron there for good measure!
That’s wonderful Rusty! Thanks so much for sharing. Another good reason to maintain this website. And may our European friends return home with great stories of how people in the states coexist with beavers!
