Last night we solemnly peered at the footbridge and un-tended dam and saw nothing. Even the cottonwood shoots at the base of the big trees had remained un-nibbled. We were depressed by the beaver-absence and headed glumly up to Ward street for a similar disappointment. Staring at the still creek and wishing vainly for ripples on the water something dark on the bank caught my eye in the dim light. New stump? Some transient’s backpack? Then the dark stump stood up and reached for a higher branch.
One of our two year olds!
Not sure what he was doing 10 feet outta the water by an old stump but I thought later about the scene from that documentary where the beaver was scent marking. Remember the beaver scooting up the bank to mark a grassy patch? It kinda looked like that. I thought how marking would make sense of he wants to find out who’s around or call another beaver for support. I didn’t see a scent mound mind you, just a beaver.
Which I was very happy about.
He toddled down the bank and slipped gracefully back into the water swimming about like a pro. We beamed made it home before dark. The orange glow from the Valley fire made everything suspenseful and unreal. I heard from Safari West that they are standing by just in case the fire takes a turn in their direction. It can’t go there! I thought about all their animals, some in pens and some ranging herds slipped in between overlapping canyons. I thought of those acres of beautiful oaks covering the hillside. I thought of the impossiblity of getting everything to safety.
No. It could not be allowed to happen. I was originally dismayed that the Valley fire was getting so much more press than the Butte fire even though it started later and was so much smaller.But it took 1000 homes yesterday, burning folks out in the middle of the night with unexpected speed. It did terrible things to so many, and I’m at least grateful it’s terrifying reach got the attention of everyone. Because it means that they will have a chance of shutting it down.
And preventing our very good friends at Safari West from ever needing protection.
Speaking of friends, I spent the weekend working on my article about beavers for the Sierra Foothill Audubon. I wasn’t entirely kind to Placer. It is still being read over for possible inclusion, but the vice president Willie Hall liked it and wants it in the next newsletter. He is a good friend of beavers. It turns out he’s watching a beaver pond a ways up from his house in Grass Valley, and enjoying the wildlife it brings. He was especially lucky to see this rare half hour. This particular visitor had obviously done his homework and read about the fish populations in beaver ponds.
Shhh, don’t tell the city council.
