Rick Lanman (left) Michael Pollock (center) Cheryl Reynolds (Right)
Back down the mountainside after a dynamic presentation, good conversations with enthusiastic rangers followed by a cheerful lunch and drive swapping stories. This is an excellent picture of my traveling companions. I would be disappointed that the one of me didn’t take, but I have this slide as a token of my treasured adventure, which is much, much better. Look closely, this was presented by Dr. Pollock and summarizes research he did comparing the benefit to smolt production (baby salmonids) from large woody debris (LWD) placed in a stream bed versus the benefit of a beaver dam in a stream bed.
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Take a moment to truly let these numbers sink in. We go from a benefit of tens of fish to more than a thousand fish. Not to mention that ‘replanting’ woody debris in ponds is expensive and time consuming. Beavers do it for free and do it vastly better. A powerful sermon in the growing beaver gospel!
When I got home there was an email from Glynnis Hood pointing me to this radio program. It’s a lovely interview and describes her excellent research and upcoming book. Go here to listen. I’m off to sleep for a couple hundred years. Wake me when we have new kits.
In less than ten days, the beaver-dog-and-pony show will be heading off for the State Parks Conference in Yosemite. I just confirmed with our historian friend Rick Lanman that he will be driving Dr. Pollock myself & Cheryl so we can confer about all things beaver for 4 hours each way. How will Rangers react to beavers? Do you know what Yosemite means? I can only hope it isn’t an omen,
Yohhe’meti (Southern Miwok) or Yos.s.e’meti (Central Miwok) originally referred to the Indian tribe that lived in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite means literally “those who kill” (Yos, “to kill,” the modifier e, “one who,” and the plural suffix -meti). It was used by the surrounding Miwok tribes. The Yosemite people were referred to as killers by these surrounding tribes, who feared them. The Yosemite tribe, led by Chief Tenaya, were composed of renegades from multiple tribes, including Mono Paiute from the eastern Sierra. The Paiute were traditional enemies of the more-peaceful Miwok people.
Yosemite was going to be the ‘last’ of my beaver-speaking tour, (Oregon, Sonoma, Yosemite). Yosemite has been the light at the end of a very busy tunnel, about which I have fondly imagined the grand empty spaces (glacial valleys, if you will) in my weekend that would come when I don’t have to prepare anymore. I guess it wasn’t to be. In the weird way that things happen I got two speaking pre-invitations yesterday: one for Madrone Audubon and one for the local Catholic preschool. Of course I said yes. Audubon needs to be better friends to beavers, and the preschool last year was one of the most delightful days of 2010. Plus the invitation came from the aide of a certain congressman whose daughter attends and who is a big beaver supporter. Apparently the kids are still ‘playing beavers’ and want us back.
Good news at the secondary dam, where our trio worked very hard all night and placed reeds and branches and mud to make repairs. Let’s hope tonight’s rain is merciful to them. Also I got this from Mary of Kings Beach Tahoe this morning.
Beavers have returned to Griff Creek! Ted and Sherry have been keeping an eye out even in the deep snow. They thought there were signs before the big storms hit, but today Eureka! There were definite signs of fresh chewing and tracks. Tomorrow we are sneaking over with some paint and sand to coat the larger trees that are by the road to keep CalTrans from getting up in arms. We will be sure to get some pictures to share.
That’s wonderful news! I don’t know if I’d use the word ‘returned’ because I think these are probably the leftover members of the colony USDA failed to shoot last season. They probably skulked off and hunkered somewhere. It’s early for dispersal in the sierras. Still its wonderful for beavers to be back in town! I’ll gladly post pictures. Bring some aspen when you come. They are probably HUNGRY!
UPDATE:
Yesterday when we went over there was a good size aspen that was chewed but hung-up on other tree and unable to fall over. We will also send you the pictures of Sherry and my daughter, Melony, pushing it over the creek and into the perfect position for feasting. We are on our way over now to paint. News at 5:00!
Oh and in case you thought protesting was for fair-weather friends, here’s what they did in snow in Wisconsin last saturday.
