Yesterday we got some nice new acclaim for Leila’s book and a follow up story about the beaver pond-snow mobile controversy in New Hampshire. I was charmed by both, but couldn’t help feeling that the Martinez beaver story would have been a prime candidate for sharing on the popular Science Friday hour.
Not to toot our own horn too much but Ira would have LOVED us!
How The Humble Beaver Shaped A Continent
The American beaver, Castor canadensis, nearly didn’t survive European colonialism in the United States. Prized for its dense, lustrous fur, and also sought after for the oil from its tail glands, the species was killed by the tens of thousands, year after year, until conservation efforts in the late 19th century turned the tide.
In her new book, Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America, author Leila Philipp tells that tale—and the ecological cost of this near-extermination. But she also has good news: beavers, and their skillful engineering of waterways, have the potential to ease the fire, drought and floods of a changing climate. She talks to Ira about the powerful footprint of the humble beaver.
Nice job! Of course I would add that the problem with ripping out a beaver dam isn’t just that it’s wrong for beavers, it’s also a waste of time. Either those beavers will fix it and you will have wasted manpower. Or new beavers will move into your ‘vacancy’ sign and you’ll have to do it all over again.
What I want to know is why wasn’t Martinez on science friday??? I’m pretty sure you remember this great story. It’s a hallmark Christmas movie just waiting to happen. I would definitely watch it ever year if you just tweaked the ending a bit.
In A New Hampshire Town, It’s Snowmobilers Vs. Beavers
People pitched their ideas for restoring the pond and keeping the bridge safe. Mark Dube even came up with his own, inspired by his time working on railroads in Northern Maine that had issues with beavers plugging nearby culverts.
By the end of the meeting, Dube was exchanging contact information with the rest of the committee to coordinate a proposal.
Some residents are determined to restore the pond. But to install a new dam or make other changes, they’ll need to get a permit from the state, and that could be a long shot. Their best bet might be to wait, and hope another family of beavers moves back in.
We would have been amazing on Science Friday. Although I guess I’m glad our stodgy council didn’t receive any more fame than they did from the whole struggle. You should never get to look like heroes in repeated news stories just for wanting to kill beavers.
Which reminds me it’s a great time to remember this old favorite, so you have something to carol to or sing around the piano tonight. A Merry time indeed!
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Three watching women<
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Seven on committee
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eight eager muskrats
Seven on committee
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine children laughing
Eight eager muskrats
Seven on committee
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Ten news reporters
Nine children laughing
Eight eager muskrats
Seven on committee
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven cameras snapping
Ten news reporters
Nine children laughing
Eight eager muskrats
Seven on committee
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Twelve hatching turtles
Eleven cameras snapping
Ten news reporters
Nine children laughing
Eight eager muskrats
Seven on committee
Six baby ducklings
Five City Council!
Four furry kits
Three watching women
Two adult beavers and
A Dam in Alham-b-ra Creek
