The Johny Appleseed of beaver controversy?

St. Augustine of Hippo was one of the early Christian converts who went on to become a great Catholic theologian. He was a sinful young man raised by a devout mother who prayed for his conversion so often he was called “The son of so many tears“. Eventually the holy spirit persuaded him to read the letters of Paul who was also the subject of a dramatic conversion. He went on to become a great believer and defender of the church. He was known for his treatise on marriage, mortality and even the recommendation not to always take the bible literally. But he is most known for the rather embarrassing prayer of his youth which went something like,

“Oh Lord, make me pure, but not yet”

Which basically translates in a very human way to saying, ‘God I know chastity is good for my soul, but can’t it be for my body first just once please?’ And when I tell you more you will know exactly why St. Augustine sprung to mind recently.

Things on my end have been pretty focused on the upcoming beaver presentation in Marin that I mentioned yesterday. It’s especially great timing because I can plug the festival AND tie in with the push to bring back beavers in the county. I was asked way back in the winter to present by the VP who organizes the speaker series. No problem, I said.

Yesterday I received word that the powers that be do NOT support beaver reintroduction in Marin, and after reading my article ask please, that I don’t recommend it. Enter Augustine.

I replied that my talk would focus on what beavers did in Martinez and of course I think every Audubon everywhere should be doing everything it could to coexist with beavers, but that I had nothing to do with Dr. Meral’s push for reintroduction in Marin and wouldn’t mention it. (To be honest, I actually don’t think beavers NEED to be reintroduced, because I know of at least three incidents where they turned up in the forbidden county on their own and will undoubtedly do so again in the future.)

But for a dark moment I once again felt that familiar vice grip that I remember from my 90 days on the beaver subcommittee. “Don’t offend the wrong people by arguing with them, but somehow show them somehow that they’re wrong anyway!” Does beaver controversy follow me wherever I go, like the peanut character Pigpen’s dust cloud? Am I the Johnny Appleseed of controversy?

I’ll do what I can, of course to show that there are plenty of ways to live with beaver in almost any setting, and a host of benefits for doing so. Who knows what will happen? It might be hotter water than I was expecting, but that should make for good attendance and lively discussion. I started of course by looking up the president  to see what I’ll be dealing with. Here she is talking about the importance of buying property to protect WETLANDS. Hey I know something that can help with that.