Ominous Politician (Hinkity Pinkity)

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, City Reports September 5, 2012

“Sinister Minister”

Ottawa has moved into the lurking stage of beaver management, and defenders of the Paul Lindsay Park Beavers are on the lookout for dastardly deeds. You will remember two adult beavers thoughtlessly moved into a storm water pond and decided to start a family. A panicked city ripped out the lodge that protected the family and the mother and kits have been exposed for several months. The father disappeared, possibly slain or looking for potential habitat in drought-stricken Ottawa and then hit by a car. A potential safe place at a nature reserve was proposed for relocation but this was denied by the local authorities as being ‘out of their jurisdiction’. Apparently there has been a official-looking white- haired stranger at the pond, and Anita has been told they are planning a imminent and clandestine relocation.

Stittsville beaver defenders brace for new fight

OTTAWA — The city is trying for a second year in a row to evict beavers from a Stittsville stormwater pond in a move that would send them to almost certain death, the rodents’ defenders say.

Life has not been good for the furry refugees in the Paul Lindsay Park pond. The city only backed off a plan to trap them last fall after their human defenders warned that “conibear” traps meant to kill the beavers relatively humanely might end up drowning them instead, or could inadvertently catch family pets. Officials were supposed to come up with a broader wildlife strategy before moving in on the beavers again, but that’s still in development.

Now beaver defenders are on the watch and trying to keep an eye on the pond in case there’s a sneak attack. They are hoping to make tshirts to identify themselves and approached us for images. We of course directed them to some fine options and will give them anything they need!

The concern for the beavers’ future is sparked by residents who’ve seen a stranger poking around the pond and asking about the beavers, according to a news release from several wildlife organizations like DuBreuil’s. Anita Utas, a vocal advocate for the beavers, said she’s heard from Christine Hartig of the city’s bylaw department (best known for her years caring for the city’s flock of Royal Swans) that the plan is to move the beavers to somewhere else “local.” There’s a sanctuary west of Algonquin Park that could probably take them safely, DuBreuil said, but that’s likely not what the city has in mind.

I remember what it was like to watch the dams anxiously for city interference and I have nothing but respect for the Ottawa defenders. Lets hope all this sunlight makes the city uncomfortable enough to do the right thing, and bring in someone who knows what they’re doing and knows what it means to move beavers without a lodge a month before winter into a strange location. In the mean time, good luck with your vigil! And keep us posted on the tshirt efforts!

Sharon Brown of Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife send this photo of husband Owen at Lily’s pond from their recent visit to Ottawa.

Like Minds…

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Environmental, Friends of Martinez Beavers January 11, 2012

The amazing case of the Stittswell beavers in Ottawa, Canada brought a host of new friends and supporters. I didn’t realize at the time just how many. This arrived over the weekend from the president and co-founder of the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Center.

Dear Heidi

I wanted to thank you and your amazing team for the work you do on behalf of beavers. It is not only an inspiration but your website provides an exceptional forum for supporting and promoting the value of wetlands and beavers. So often people working on wildlife issues feel isolated and alone, particularly in challenging the status quo, so the value of Worth A Dam simply cannot be over estimated.

Our Centre has been in operation for over 20 years but it has only been in

the last eight years or so, with increased development in the region, that we have become involved in beaver issues. We have worked with individuals quite successfully on beaver solutions and have attempted to get the City of

Ottawa to adopt more progressive practices, particularly with respect to storm water ponds. As you can attest, it is not easy changing mindsets within government but we are determined to do so while recognizing it will be a long battle.

As you know, most recently we have been involved with Anita Utas, a local resident, in challenging the City’s plan to trap beavers in a Stittsville storm water pond. Anita is an amazing advocate for beavers and we hope to continue working with her and to involve her in our school program wherever possible.

Most of our Centre’s efforts are directed to providing education on urban wildlife through area schools but we also have a growing community outreach

program, giving presentations to a wide range of groups on wildlife issues, writing a weekly ‘Living with Wildlife’ column in regional newspapers ( website version that features the Stittsville beavers) a website (www.wildlifeinfo.ca) that provides detailed conflict prevention information, and we do extensive work with other environmental and animal protection organizations on specific habitat and wildlife issues.

Since learning about Worth a Dam, we have been very pleased to have been able to direct a number of people to your website. Like the proverbial ripples in a beaver pond, it is spreading the message and doing much good.

We can’t thank you enough for the dedicated and talented campaign you have undertaken. We wanted you to know that it’s positive impact and influence is

being felt throughout the country.

Donna DuBreuil

Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre

Donna! That’s the best letter EVER! Coming from a woman who started a wildlife rehab center with her husband more than 20 years ago after finding a baby squirrel, we take your appreciation very, very seriously. The facility helped injured and orphaned wildlife for many years, trained volunteers, encouraged humane solutions and made a massive difference. When regulations changed in the country they stopped being able to do animal rehab, and made the decision to go full time into education. I am awed by their dedication and commitment to teaching children to appreciate wildlife and making sure adults know how (and why!) to live with it.

Well, the next time I’m feeling like our flailing efforts to save beavers and teach folk about their importance to the watershed don’t make a whit of difference, I will reread Donna’s words and keep trying a little longer. Thank you, Donna, for taking the time to write a beautiful letter, giving me permission to post it, and making us feel like all our hard work really is Worth A Dam!

One for the Good Guys!

heidi08 Beaver News, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Friends of Martinez Beavers November 11, 2011

Our beaver friends in Stittsville Ottawa just got some very good news. Seems the day they were planning a street protest (including a giant costumed beaver)of the announced beaver killing the good mayor decided that they might need to look at actual options.

OTTAWA — Beavers living in a stormwater pond in Stittsville’s Paul Lindsay Park have been given a reprieve, city officials announced Thursday.

The city has backed down on intentions to trap and kill the beavers living in the pond near Abbott Street and Shea Road. The announcement was made the same day that a protest has been planned against the plans.

“We have heard in recent days that people would like us to have a second look at how we protect the integrity of our flood control systems and we are listening and acting,” Mayor Jim Watson said in a statement released Thursday morning, hours before the planned noon-hour rally at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights monument at the corner of Elgin and Lisgar streets.

Hooray for tenacity and compassion! Hooray for actually using the internet(s) to do research and find solutions! Hooray for the folks who’ve been occupying Paul Lindsay Park at night to make sure the city can’t bring in trappers under the cover of darkness! Hooray for wikipedia Rick who put the Martinez Beaver story on the encyclopedia and got them thinking of solutions in the first place and Hooray for Mike Callahan who gave them advice and fed the info to the right people! And Hooray for the very nice CBC documentary producer who demonstrated interest in the story and probably scared the snot out of the mayor!

Hooray also for the Mayor and the Councillor Shad Qadri who even though they weren’t ready to hop on the beaver train eventually had the good sense to get off the tracks!

This is a case where there are a couple hard working women at the forefront, including artist Anita Utas who I mentioned before and Donna Dubreuil, the co-founder and president of the Ottawa-Carlton Wildlife Center. Well done, ladies! November is a fine month for heroically saving beavers at the last possible moment!

Councillor Qadri (who couldn’t be bothered to write me back when I told him about options) just wrote and asked me to share the city’s press release (aka “call the dogs OFF!“)

Thank you for your e-mail message. The following announcement has been released today. Please pass this information on to whomever you feel would be interested.

Lindsay Pond beaver trapping halted

Ottawa – Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Shad Qadri today announced that the City of Ottawa will accelerate the development of its Wildlife Strategy. At the same time, the City will halt trapping activity in the Lindsay Pond area.

“We have heard in recent days that people would like us to have a second look at how we protect the integrity of our flood control systems and we are listening and acting,” said Mayor Watson.

Staff has proposed that the Wildlife Strategy include a re-evaluation of the City’s beaver management practices, including a development of a risk management evaluation process for responding to conflicts between beavers and infrastructure, such as municipal drains, culverts and storm water facilities.

“I am pleased that the City Manager has been able to act on my suggestion to explore alternatives,” added Stittsville Councillor Shad Qadri. “Flood control is a critical program for my ward and I am hopeful that we can find a way to protect residents from flooding and enhance our handling of wildlife at the same time.”

While even the most progressive experts in wildlife management acknowledge that lethal trapping of beavers is sometimes necessary to protect critical infrastructure and private property, the City recognises that advances in beaver management practices and technologies provide a range of alternatives to lethal trapping. The City recognizes that many of these alternatives are also more protective of aquatic and wetland ecosystems.

Again, I understand your concerns and I thank you for the opportunity to address this issue with you.

Regards, Shad

Oh and to celebrate we saw three beavers last night munching in the annex around 7:30. I haven’t seen three together since our kits were little!