Rusty of Napa reminds us on this special mother’s day that beavers aren’t the only ones busy providing for their families this time of year.
Here’s a few other examples. Muskrats gather fresh green grasses for the family meal, and the family bed.
If you’re curious to learn more about this hardy little beaver neighbor, you can always rely on Bob Arnebeck from New York. He as been my mentor since the dawn of beavers in Martinez, and I’m always eager to listen to what he has to say.
Bob Arnebeck’s web page on Muskrats
So, yes, muskrats are relatively small, not much bigger than a cat, and they are avid eaters of green grass, not meat, but they are tough little animals just as likely to stand their ground and even attack than run and hide. I’ve spent a lot of time with muskrats, and the curious thing is, I never quite get a photo of them that I think captures the real muskrat. The Indians called them muskquoshes which, I think makes more sense because muskrat gets you thinking about rats, and muskrats are more than big swimming rats with long tails even though that is what they look like.
He describes their homes and habits, talks about their being tolerated in beaver lodges, and goes on to note that muskrats are even adept at using their tails to indicate alarm and has this stunning video to prove it:
Jon and I were so excited by Moses footage last night we braved the drizzle at 5:30 and went to see for ourselves. Low tide isn’t until ten, so we were rewarded with a raccoon, three ducks, many birds, fewer insects, but no beavers. Sigh.
They say patience is a virtue.
Just to cheer us though I will tell you that I accepted a speaking arrangement yesterday for the Placer County Fish and Game Commission in July. If that isn’t speaking truth to power in the belly of the beast I don’t know what is. OUTLIER COUNTY! The Portland folks also arranged a second speaking venue, this one at the Clean Water Services building in Beaverton, where I can meet other people and swap ideas about using beavers to improve creeks in urban areas. It is the morning after my big talk which won’t allow much sleeping time, but I’m pretty happy because it gives us an excuse to take a loop around the city and drive back through Forest park, under this bridge:
Also, Mario got a little more work done yesterday in the rain, and was happy that some stranger even brought him a coffee! I can’t wait to see how awesome this is going to look.
And just in case you missed yesterday’s rare second post, I’m offering a rerun:
Late Breaking footage from Moses Silva last night. Not only does Martinez have a pair of beavers, but it looks here like we have a mated bonded pair. Special thanks to Moses who shared and Linda who sent it our way.
Oh and pay special attention to that head shake at .29 because in my years of filming there is only one beaver who did that regularly. And that was our last mom.
