After discovering the Beaver dam, lodge and their pond and then the excitement of seeing a beaver for the first time I began to worry about the future of this Beaver oasis. While I was exploring the Beaver pond along it’s approximately 1/2 mile length along Tulocay creek I noticed dump trucks dropping off dirt at the vacant lot next to the Beaver pond. Checking around I found there is a 4 story 90 unit hotel being developed on the vacant lot, and became concerned that it would harm them.
After making contact with Worth a Dam Heidi suggested publicity is one of the keys to protecting beavers. I contacted the local papers in mid May 2014 and quickly a reporter decided to do a story about the Napa Beaver Dam one mile from downtown. Me with my vast less than 7 days of experience (I saw my first Beaver on May 11th) was to meet the reporter at the Beaver Dam. Somewhat in a panic I called a few local County Employees on very short notice and was lucky enough to have Shaune Horn who is a Watershed and Flood Control Resource Specialist with the Napa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District agree to meet Howard Yune from The Napa Valley Register and me on less than a day’s notice on May 15th. Heidi also agreed to talk to Howard about Beavers via phone, and fortunately Shaune had some experience with Napa County Beavers over the past few years and is concerned about Beaver welfare along with wildlife in general.
Howard on left and Shaune with cap on right
On May 18th the story was published in the local paper The Napa Valley Register and made the front page.
