Wanna get Heidi Perryman’s attention?
Headline an article about beavers with the title: “WORTH A DAM”
That should do it.
Worth a Dam
The earth is warming. Weather trends are changing. Some say it is nature’s way. Many believe we humans have nothing to do with it. Most scientists say otherwise. Whatever you believe, it’s hard to negate that a warming trend is upon us and our planet is changing faster than ever in recorded history. Here in the White Mountains, snowfall has been scant, and two historically large fires have plagued us of late.
While we humans are pondering the problem, other species on our planet are doing their best to counteract these changes. Both ocean and mountain environments each have at least one wild creature who is working to mitigate the effects of a warming planet. In the oceans, whales are helping to save us, and on the mountain it just might be the beaver who does the most to counter our drought conditions.
What many of us might not realize, is how the return of the beaver benefits us right here in our own surroundings. This fascinating creature may be our saving grace as our planet warms. Other than Homo sapiens, the American beaver does the most to make changes in its habitat. Perhaps it is this amazing animal who does more than its share to enhance our world with a work ethic that puts many of us to shame. You might not see much action from them in the daytime, but at night? Well, they are definitely busy beavers.
It is now thought that the presence of beavers on our lakes and streams could be part of an answer to the effects of global warming. We can be ever so thankful to those forward-thinking law makers and voters who passed laws to protect them, because now we have had a chance to study them and learn some amazing things from the largest rodent in North America. Votes do matter.
When beavers build a dam, they create a pond for themselves which serves many other life forms. When water backs up behind the dam, it not only creates a deeper body of water, but also spreads the flow, creating wetlands where a diverse number of plants flourish in the shallow rich silty soil. Aquatic life abounds, and birds, reptiles, and larger animals feed in the rich environment. Wetlands only cover about 2 percent of our forest, but support about 80% of our wildlife. Additionally, a marshland filters water and is one of Mother Nature’s purification systems. We can thank the beaver in many cases for our fresh water.
Ahhh a nice description of beaver benefits all the way from the white mountains in Arizona. Hmm, I wonder what got you thinking about this anyway? I mean did you wake up this morning liking beavers and dreaming up our 11 year-old name or was there something else?
These incredible engineers build new dams along mountain streams, create ponds, and keep streams wet all year long. As proclaimed by Ben Goldfarb in his book, Eager Beavers Matter, “beavers function as a climate adaptation strategy, compensating for the loss of snowpack and glacial melt.”
Ah HA! I know what you’ve been reading! Okay so chapter 6 either got your attention or slipped subliminally into your brain, I guess its nice to know you like it. We like it too. I’m not sure how I feel about you borrowing it. I guess the best part of being in a book is that it’s official that at least we thought of it first.
How can we repay the beaver? Perhaps one simple contribution from those of us who live in the White Mountains is to recognize the value of these amazing mammals. It seems to me that they are certainly worth a dam.
Ya ya ya. We know it’s a clever pun. It’s brilliant! The worst part is that her editor probably thinks she’s a fricking genius for thinking of that pun. Maybe she’ll even get a raise. Or a new job offer. Or maybe she’ll finally get the attention of a neighbor who never believed her before. And it will be good for beavers in Arizona. Which is the point, Heidi.
And we will always know the truth, right?
