Patricia Randolph’s Madravenspeak: Life-giving beavers deserve respect
“If I could design the perfect animal, it would be the beaver.” — Glynnis Hood, “The Beaver Manifesto”
Hood, a former Canadian National Parks warden and current professor, goes on to say, “In most places, a world without beavers is a world without water and the life it supports.”
With human and cattle water consumption at an all-time high, it took persistent drought and wildfires to get people trucking and flying beavers back to the land to offer their vital services.
According to this Forest Service study, “The capability of beavers to store water, trap sediment, reduce erosion, and enhance riparian vegetation can be used as a management tool to restore degraded aquatic and riparian ecosystem. In arid ecosystems where streams may become dry in the summer months, water impounded behind beaver dams may provide the only above ground water source for wildlife and livestock. Beaver habitat modifications can reduce pollution and improve water quality in aquatic ecosystems, and purify water from acid mine drainage.”
Nice! I’ve come across her smart thinking about beavers before, and we may have even exchanged emails. Love to see the word getting out and shared with new folks. I left a comment but you really should too.
There’s been a lot of action at the beaver dams since the festival. Last night there were many families and sightings again. Cheryl was able to get this fantastic photo illustrating the relationship between beavers and birds which I lightened a bit. Enjoy!
Some great moments with the Alhambra Valley Band who started off the Beaver Festival on a high bright note!
