Beaver beginnings and endings

heidi08 Beavers, Environmental, Friends of Martinez Beavers May 8, 2014

At least two very important things happened yesterday, both of them Canadian in nature. Jari Osborne’s promotional interview for “Leave it to beavers” aired on Metro Focus. It featured a discussion of why beavers matter and some of the most intriguing clips from the film. The beaver part starts at 13:21. Enjoy.

Are you excited yet? I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to see a powerful filmmaker and a prominent interviewer casually discussing beaver benefits on national television. And that adorable footage of the kit hopping eagerly in the lodge is, I believe, the cutest event ever recorded since the development of film. (Or eyes.)

I heard from a very excited Jari yesterday. It must be a little weird to have your second premiere nearly two years after finishing the film. An American debut is a big deal. She even talked about getting Sherri, Suzanne and Carol together for a meet up reunion at the beaver festival. (!!) That is an impossibly wonderful idea to imagine, we’ll see. In the meantime, plan your superbowl-beaver party, tell all your friends, and get ready for next Wednesday.

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The other very important thing that happened yesterday was the death of 92 year old author, Farley Mowat. Up until the last moment of his life he was a fierce advocate for nature and a dedicated writer. You probably crossed paths with “Never cry wolf”, a story I drew on internally again and again when fighting for our beavers – from the idea of leaving a familiar job for the complete unknown, to the joy and brutality of an unexpected encounter with nature, to the bumbling of failed bureaucracies and corrupt politicians lurking under every stone. His writing prepared me for what I was going to face.

Even though my journey was only 8 blocks from my home, it was still a great distance from what I was trained to do. I needed an experienced guide to show me the way. He knew what challenges I would face there, and why it was worth the effort. He even understood how my life could feel at once completely taken over and more like my own than it ever had been. How fitting that his deer friend, Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd, remembers his important life by comparing him to Canadian icons like “Grey Owl”.

The world is such a better place because you were in it, Mr. Mowat. I hope I am a better person because you’re writing is inside me.

In the end, there were no simple answers,

no heroes, no villians.

only silence.

But it began the moment that I first saw the wolf

By the act of watching, with the eyes of man,

I had pointed the way for those who followed.

Beaver Patriotism

heidi08 Beavers, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental May 7, 2014

Finally an embeddable version! Here’s the link so you can email it to all your relatives and friends. What I love most of all about waiting for its broadcast is seeing it be promoted in all 50 states including our own. From WNET in New York, to WXEL in Florida, WGBH in Massachusetts, WVIZ in Ohio, IPTV in Iowa, to KLVX in Nevada – even KHET in Hawaii! All these states that I have covered over the years, valiantly resisting beavers, or exaggerating their problems, or frankly lying about the harm they do. They will all have an hour of beaver benefits on their TV whether they like it or not.

I love that it will be streamed across the airwaves to stubborn people all across this great nation, and even if people are too closed minded to watch, it will still be be there, taking up real estate in their awareness and reminding them that folks are paying attention to this animal. Maybe some child or house wife will watch absentmindedly, but when their city council lies to them in two years or six months they’ll think, wait, didn’t I see some special about that? And they’ll look it up or remember and then talk to their husband of friends and next thing you know there will be a new Martinez to contend with.

Maybe more than one.

SHOWTIME!

heidi08 Beavers, Educational, Friends of Martinez Beavers May 1, 2014

It’s May! It’s May! And the trailer for the new beaver-mentary on PBS is out! Click on the image for an un-embeddable preview and be very very excited. Then check your local PBS station to see when it will be airing around the 14th and plan your superbowl party accordingly! I just heard from the filmmaker Jari Osborne this morning that she’s in New York for a series of interviews and had lunch with the producers of Nature yesterday. Apparently they were really excited about the film and learned a lot! Lets hope this opens a nation of minds!

Leave It to Beavers – Preview

A growing number of scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists now regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and worldwide water shortages. Using their skills as natural builders and brilliant hydro-engineers, beavers can transform and revive landscapes.

Congratulations Jari on ~~a job~~ many jobs well done! I am so excited to view the finished product. If you aren’t sure when it airs near you find out your local PBS station (KQED in the bay area) and check to see when Nature airs. If for some reason it isn’t scheduled to air call the station and demand it! And if all else fails we’ll all be able to watch it online after the broadcast date.

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Great beaver watching last night, five in all, a pond turtle coming over the dam, seven baby ducks, and a demonstration that dam building takes lots and lots of practice – and maybe some geometry!

And the epic turtle journey:

SAVE THE DATE!

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers elsewhere, Educational, Environmental, Friends of Martinez Beavers, In the News April 12, 2014

I heard this morning the official word that Jari Osborne’s Canadian Beaver Whisperers documentary will have its American debut on PBS Nature May 14, 2014! (It will be released under the title “Leave it to beavers” which is SO overdone.) That means in a month you can get your friends together for the very best superbowl-type viewing party of the century! It will star our good beaver friends, Glynnis Hood, Sherri Tippie and Suzanne Fouty, with beaver problem-solving by Michel LeClare of Quebec. Jari is flying to New York to appear on MetroFocus May 1st and promote the series.

Sherri Tippie kissing a beaver kit (a pup). East Beaver Creek, Colorado. Photo Credit: © Ford McClave 2013

Not excited yet? Just read the promo:

A growing number of scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists have come to regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and worldwide water shortages. Once valued for their fur or hunted as pests, these industrious rodents are seen in a new light through the eyes of this novel assembly of beaver enthusiasts and “employers” who reveal the ways in which the presence of beavers can transform and revive landscapes. Using their skills as natural builders and brilliant hydro-engineers, beavers are being recruited to accomplish everything from finding water in a bone-dry desert to recharging water tables and coaxing life back into damaged lands.

Beaver at work dragging large branch/closeup. Ontario, Canada. Photo Credit: © Michael Runtz

It says these great photos by Michael Runtz (a good friend of our good friend Donna DeBreuille) can only be used for promotion but I’m pretty sure this qualifies! Watch it! Watch it! Watch it! Watch it with your children, your grandmother, your mailman. Drive up the ratings! Send letters to the station! Make PBS think they need a weekly beaver program! Don’t get up to use the bathroom during any part of it unless your in pain. Stay all the way to the very end of the credits because it’s theoretically possible that my tiny name will be there.

Here’s the viewing schedule for KQED in case your busy that night.

KQED 9: Wed, May 14, 2014 — 8:00pm

KQED 9: Thu, May 15, 2014 — 2:00am

KQED Life: Fri, May 16, 2014 — 7:00pm

KQED Life: Sat, May 17, 2014 — 1:00am

KQED World: Sat, May 17, 2014 — 9:00pm

KQED 9: Sun, May 18, 2014 — 10:00am

KQED World: Sun, May 18, 2014 — 3:00pm

KQED World: Sun, May 18, 2014 — 9:00pm

KQED World: Mon, May 19, 2014 — 5:00am

KQED World: Mon, May 19, 2014 — 11:00am

They haven’t released a trailer yet, but here’s the Canadian one which I adore.

Beavers Nominated

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers elsewhere, Friends of Martinez Beavers January 14, 2014

In case you missed the Golden Globe Awards sunday night, here’s a bit of tremendous cheer. I heard from Jari yesterday that the Beaver Whisperers has been nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards in the best documentary category! What does this mean? It means more good press for beavers and our friends who take care of them. Remember the American version will air on PBS Nature this year, and I’m told the rough edits are finished.

Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series
The Beaver Whisperers
CBC
(Dam Builder Productions)
Jari Osborne

Remember that a nomination is already a kind of win. Congratulations Jari for your remarkable work and vision! And thanks to the hard working team-beaver that made this such a success. The film includes many beaver-faces you know (Glynnis Hood, Suzanne Fouty, Carol Evans, Kent Woodruff) and some you will be very happy to meet. We are eager to use Jari’s remarkable efforts to promote beavers everywhere and know this good news couldn’t happen to a nicer girl! Hurray beavers whisperers!