What a fantastic report from NBC news. The Napa beavers are getting the eyes and respect they deserve; Watching this report I am glowing with satisfaction and filled with the thought that it’s too bad that Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht who had the vision to make it possible and welcome beavers is now retired and unable to get credit. Or that the hard working crew that struggled for two decades to restore the Napa River could see the fruits of their labors.

Come to think of it and that the Martinez beavers who were probably Napa’s grandparents can’t see their hard work come to fruition.  There are chapters to this story I haven’t even heard,. It’s been a long road to get here at all.

California beavers leading the way in state environmental efforts

In California, where beavers were once trapped into near extinction and considered nuisances, they’re now being framed as potential land stewards, saviors in a time of tumultuous weather swings. The state is now looking for ways to harness their unique skills as tools in dealing with the impacts of climate change. The California Natural Resource Agency recently even included beavers in its climate smart strategy.

“In places where we’re trying to restore wetlands, meadows, salmon streams, riparian range lands,” said Lindquist, “we can actually partner with the beaver to accelerate the pace of that restoration.”

It’s not to say these toothy workers aren’t without their issues — beavers are known to cause issues by plugging culverts, felling trees and causing flooding by their damming.

“There are some places where it’s really all efforts to coexist have been exhausted,” said Lundquist. “In those cases we don’t want to kill those beavers, we’d like to put them to use somewhere else.”

Dolman added the busy rodents also ply their services for free and beyond the red tape of permits.

In Napa Creek, the trio of young beavers put on a show for those gathered on the sidewalks and in the parking lot abutting the creek, swimming in and out of their lodge, strutting up the hillside to pull down willow branches which they dragged back to the water to chew. Dolman followed the scene through a pair of powerful binoculars.

“Willow leaf salad for dinner in downtown Napa,” he whispered. “It’s like the perfect Slow Food.”