You know how it is, You work and work every day at a worthy task, like changing the beaver relocation laws in California or hey maybe impeaching a corrupt president who made deals with a foreign government to thwart our democracy, and it seems like you are getting NO WHERE, You’ve followed all the rules. You’ve done this all by the book, and you can measure the dramatic noneffect in nanometers.
It’s not working.
Then one day, everything changes. I mean everything.
Meet Eric Robinson a fairly recent beaver believer from Southern California who wants those reintroduction laws changed and fast for his very dry part of the state. He tried talking to fish and wildlife, tried working with Kate Lundquist from OAEC who has been at the frontlines on this issue, working to get the law changed, And got impatient with all the nothing that was happening.
So he stepped out of line. Got a crowbar. And found the rusted gears most likely to move.
Eric spoke with the head of USDA who said they would be happy to give him some beavers. And with the members of several tribes who want beavers back on their land. And with Molly Alves from the tulalip tribe whose been doing this work in Washington for years. Then he talked with Doris at Sonoma Wildlife and got her to agree to house some beavers during transition.
It went from impossible to it’s all happening. Molly is coming to do a training for Doris and her staff in October, and rusty wheels are in motion. Yesterday he was on the local news regarding the beavers at Camp Pendleton which they have been routinely trapping for years. Now he’s talking to SeaWorld about possibly being a Southern California stopover site. It couldn’t hurt their reputation. And they already have a beaver in their education program.
Oh and he has an acronym for the program. It’s called B.R.A.V.O.
Project BRAVO – Beaver Restoration Aquifer Vitalization Opportunities
Now the operation has a GOFUNDME campaign and you can help. Sometimes when the wheels of progress turn too slowly you just have to make your own.
Rescue Camp Pendleton Beavers
Currently Beaver are coming down the Santa Margarita River into Camp Pendleton every Spring where they are lethally trapped. This year we finally discovered a way to save them. We are partnering with California Tribes to restore beaver to their native lands. We will use the money to buy Hancock Live traps $450, Game Cameras to record our process $90, Food and Lodging for them while we collect the whole family $300, Veterinarian bill for health check up $360. Transportation to the release site at Tule River Reservation $300.
GO TEAM BRAVO! Eric and his merry volunteers could use your support. This is pretty exciting to watch unfold. Now we just have to do that other thing too, Stay tuned.
