I had an odd science teacher in 3rd grade who started class off with what she called a joke. It seems a pair of ants were crawling about on the tee one day when a very novice golfer came up to learn how to make his first drive. He swung once, missed the ball and chewed out the turf next to where the ants were waiting. Then he swung again and chopped out a huge chunk of the sod directly where there home lay.

The first ant had had enough. He began stalkng away pointedly so shaken that his friend asked where he was going.

“I don’t know about you.” He said airly “But I’m getting ON THE BALL!”

Which I suppose was a good a way as any to encourage us to start 3rd grade off with an energy boost. It’s how I felt about New Mexico this morning when I read this article.

Environmentalists push for changes in New Mexico on beavers

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Environmental advocates in New Mexico are pushing for the state to change its policies about beavers.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that WildEarth Guardians and other groups want New Mexico wildlife officials to rethink managing the removal and relocation of the animals the groups say provide ecological benefits for rivers and streams.

The push comes two months after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed seven new members to the State Game Commission, which is responsible for creating regulations regarding fish and wildlife in the state.

James Pitman, assistant chief of information for the Department of Game and Fish, said the state, which views beavers as beneficial when in suitable habitat, has a number of techniques it uses to mitigate conflict between humans and beavers. “Lethal control” is one of those. But he said the primary approach is educating landowners on how to coexist with beavers.

Someone at Game and Fish thinks there are other ways to manage beaver conflicts? Someone thinks beavers are beneficial in suitable habitat?

Be still my heart, I feel faint. I think I need to lie down.

The revamped State Game Commission “has an opportunity to turn a page and create a new relationship and a new narrative with beavers that isn’t driven by this totally outdated belief that beavers are problems,” said John Horning, executive director of WildEarth Guardians.

The animals create occasional headaches for irrigators and private landowners by blocking water flows and damaging trees. But environmentalists say beavers also form wetland habitat — rare in the desert Southwest — and filter sediment, which improves water quality.

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Sometimes only this video can convey my excitement.

There are somethings you can NOT believe when they actually come down the tracks. You’ve waited for them so long. You’ve begged and pleaded and cajoled and whined. And then one day there suddenly think beavers are good for New Mexico and you start to feel excitement so strongly you can barely contain it.

Someday that will happen to California. Just you wait.

Now lets move onto some very adorable footage of the VERY FIRST BABY BEAVERS born in Yorkshire for 300 years.
The first time I saw that big low head getting out of the water I thought it was a hippo, then I watched again and realized it was a beaver carrying a little one in her mouth. Now I’m not sure how exactly a beaver decides that ONE offspring gets carried and the other one has to come on his own. But she did. And it’s adorable. The entire world is showing this footage today like proud parents passing their phone to coworkers.