Beaver friend from New Zealand William Huges-Games just wrote to say that 2010 looks fine so far. Just thought you’d want to know.

The news is filled with stories of New Yorkers being invited to write down things they want to leave behind in this decade and shred the paper to get rid of it. I have several thoughts about this. First of all, no true pagan would rely on a paper shredder for these important cleansing rituals. Sheesh. (I guess it was a no-burn day). But second of all, its worth a post. What would I leave behind when the wagons move on to the twenty-tens?

• Sheetpile
• Mary Tappel
• Extermination as a management techique
• Damaging the beaver habitat
• Any reference to beaver as a sexual slang
• My Martinez Rotary Club Experience
• People who think beavers aren’t native to America
• Not having our kits survive
• Any twisted reference to how much the beavers “cost” Martinez
• Kids Fishing at the Dam site
• People who don’t return emails
• News Media stealing our pictures and acting like they took them
• All beaver puns, including but not limited to “gnawing problems” and “bank failure”.
• Naturalists who insist on walking on the dam to get the best photo
• Sheetpile
• Oil in the streets making oil in our creek
• Drunks and homeless who leave trash at the dam
• Being told we can’t replace trees the beavers take
• CDFG who seem to only say yes to killing requests
• APHIS and USDA who help with the killing
• People who steal things off the website without asking
• Spelling Mistakes
• People who complain that beaver dams will block salmon passage
• Development and Redevelopment without respect for open space
• People who say that Sheetpile through the lodge won’t harm beavers.
• People who harrass burrowing owls, acorn woodpeckers, badgers and other species
• Politicians who manipulate facts and financial data to control opinion
• SPAM
• People who think Muskrat are Beavers
• Politicians who text friends during meetings or events
• Anyone who reads a political twitter page
• People who make jokes about shooting the beavers or using them for coats
• Setting up the popup tent
• Taking down the popup tent
• Eye conditions affecting beavers
• Buying ink cartridges for the printer
• Wordpress being weird
• Sites that block you from copying photos or text
• Paypal taking money for each donation
• Not getting the tshirts for free
• Comcast limiting the number of emails I can send or receive
• Sheetpile and Lies about Sheetpile

Hmmm. I think that covers most of it. What did I miss? Don’t worry. I only complain once in a blue moon. Have fun tonight! Ohh and go read about Martinez successful rebranding effort!

UPDATE: One thing the beavers wanted to leave behind in 2009. The big willow right by the primary dam. Lets just say its position is no longer “precarious”.

Remember the owl in Winnie the Pooh? He was the only one in hundred acre wood that could spell his name. W-O-L. Beaver friend Scott Artis has been working hard to save the burrowing owls in Antioch. He was able to generate some modest media attention. Hopefully this is just the beginning.For information about Sunday’s protest, check here.

To evict the owls before nesting season starts in February, environmental consultants Monk & Associates are installing one-way doors on the owls’ burrows that will let them out, but prevent them from returning. Once the owls are out, the biologists will destroy the burrows and fumigate for ground squirrels.”We do it in a systematic manner until all the burrows are collapsed and the owls are moved out,” said Geoff Monk, a certified wildlife biologist who has been working with nesting birds of prey for 30 years.

Thirty years disturbing nesting birds of prey? Do they give a gold watch for that? The article yawns through several justifications for their eviction, without any effort to demonstrate that this will be harmless or reference to research suggesting the owls effortlessly relocate. It allows multiple Monkisms, and one comment by Scott, then clunks to a big Disney ending with the quote,

“We wouldn’t want to hurt them in any way, and I am not concerned about evicting them at all,” Monk said. “They will all find happy homes.“

Ahhh. Happy Homes! Maybe that could be the name of your new subdivision. Now, we mustn’t blame the staggeringly successful Walnut Creek-based Monk & Associates. They are just doing their job. (”Biostitutes: The other oldest profession,” someone said to me yesterday). We ask for scientists to teach us how to successfully interfere, and fortunately some are willing to do the job. I heard an exciting rumor about their efforts in a previous intervention that I am not permitted to share, but suffice it to say the ensuing feeling that washed over me was not reassurance.

In case you want a comparison to some better reporting, check out the parallel article from just a month ago in the related paper the Mercury News. It starts out with the necessary “Why should I care” hook that every busy reader needs, and a serious challenge to the idea that the owls can just “move on”. There’s also a recognition that people need wild places to survive, and a clear commitment by the city to provide a thoughtful civic response to that need.

Kleinhaus said the concept of mitigation doesn’t work for owls: the city isn’t physically moving those specific owls to a new home. They’re simply assuming that they will find somewhere else to live, and more owls will reproduce in Alameda to make up for them. Burrowing owls tend to show “strong fidelity” to their nest sites, remaining in the same area for years, according to California Department of Fish and Game documents. As they disappear from Santa Clara County, Kleinhaus said, they’re difficult to bring back.

“They’ve been mitigated to death,” she said.

Now I realize that Antioch isn’t Mountain View. There’s a huge difference in median income for a start. Still, how much do you want to bet that the people of both zip codes want thoughtful development that incorporates and respects open spaces so that homes and businesses are enriched by their surroundings? How much would it cost to set aside a little wild space for a family of owls? What would be lost and what would be gained?

Go ahead and think about the answer. I can wait.

So yesterday I had a chance to meet with new beaver-friend Brock Dolman and walk him around the dams. He had fascinating questions and things to say about the flora and fauna in the area. One thing that has him particularly motivated at the moment is the reintroduction project for beavers in the Russian River Area. He would like to work with the salmon people to spread the news about beavers helping salmon, and use that as a foothold to get them viewed in a different way. Potential rather than Pest.

He obviously didn’t have to do much convincing with me!

Still, I wanted to make sure to show him the flow device and talk about its value, because after three years of following these stories, it is clear to me that the future of beavers is inextricably tied to the future of flow devices and culvert fences. People are going to complain and worry about water height. They are going to get upset about road flooding. Even if the salmon personally swam onto their doorstep, there will be no way to convince them to keep beavers without some proven management tools. The techniques may be out there, but having someone knowledgeable implement them makes the difference between a device that works and pays for itself many times over, and a failed installation that allows beaver-foes to say pedantically “those things never work”. (See Mary Tappel and the Entire Department of CA Fish & Game!)

So where are the professional installers? Well first and foremost is Skip Lisle of Vermont. He is the inventor of the “beaver deceiver” and learned his trade back with the Penobscot Nation where he discovered that beavers dislike trapezoidal shapes and won’t build dams against fences in that shape. Skip travels around the country and around the world doing installs, and training. He installed our successful flow device which will be 2 years old on Saturday.

In the late 90’s, Mike and Ruth Callahan attended a Humane Society workshop on beavers and formed the Pioneer Valley Wetland Volunteers. Mike trained with Skip Lisle and learned the ropes, gradually building a great demand for his skills around the State of Massachusetts. Eventually he quit the day job and started the business of Beaver Solutions. Mike Feels strongly that the best way to increase the beaver population is to teach more people about successful beaver management. He received an AWI grant last year to do just that. His DVD will be launched in the Spring.

Jake Jacobsen is the watershed steward for Stillaquamish county in Washington State. He teaches local property owners in his jurisdiction the ins and outs of beaver management. He also works with several non-profits around the area to teach the installation of flow devices and culvert blockers. In his spare time (?) Jake manages his own, international nonprofit, dedicated to protecting watersheds. Meanwhile, the savvy Washington state also boasts The Lands Council, with not one but two Vista Corp trainees learning the skills of beaver management. They are responsible for the Beaver solution video, and boast the very best beaver site on the web. (sniff)

Mary O’Brien is the Utah Forests Manager for the Grand Canyon Trust.  She was the powerhouse behind the “Working Beaver Conference” and a major force for beaver advocacy in Utah. Remember, Utah’s State Department of Wildlife is introducing a state wide beaver management program this year, so they know their flow devices.

Ned Bruha (AKA: The Skunk Whisperer) is a rockstar of wildlife rescue out in Oklahoma where he uses humane methods to manage all kinds of wildlife problems. Ned has been particularly interested in communicating with Worth A Dam about beavers, and we recently put him in touch with Mike Callahan to get some flow device pointers.

Sharon & Owen Brown, of Beavers Wetlands & Wildlife, are trustees of the beaver sanctuary bequeathed by famous advocate Dorothy Richards in New York State. They are connected to all the beaver developments around the nation and are a wealth of information about flow devices and their installation.

Sarah Summerville is the trustee of the Unexpected Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, which is the inherited organization and lands of well know beaver advocate Hope Sawyer Buyukmihci. Sarah is a great beaver friend herself and has learned a thing or two about flow devices.

Last but certainly not least, Skip Hilliker is a former trapper and new found beaver management advocate in Connecticut. He is an employee of the Humane Society for that state, and spends the year doing beaver installations.

Okay, that should be a basic introduction. Here’s some footage to give you the idea.

Who doesn’t overeat on the holidays? The beavers have apparently had a busy Christmas weekend. I think of them waking up and seeing all the gnawed trees (six by cheryl’s account). Maybe it’s a little like getting up after a party and seeing how many empty bottles are assembled in the kitchen. (Ohhhh. Maybe we shoulda stopped sooner. No wonder my head’s killing me!) Still, the beavers probably have some leftover genes that tell them to “eat up and make food to store” for winter, even though Martinez doesn’t freeze. They clearly let that archaic message direct some chewing behavior.

Like all late night parties goers, the beavers have had some incredible guests lately. Check out these photos from Cheryl this weekend.

Snowy Egret at landing on secondary dam: Cheryl Reynolds

Great Egret Fishing on Secondary Dam: Cheryl Reynolds

This is a nice opportunity to see the snowy egrets fancy feet. See that bright colored landing gear in the first photo? The snowy egret comes equipped with some flashy footwear that he wriggles under the water to attract the fish. When some curious fellows come underwater to investigate, the snowy egret snaps up his dinner! Now that’s some good designing.

Oh and by the way, this is the first year we’ve photographed Great Egrets at the beaver dam. Mark it as another species drawn to the habitat.

Looks like “Friends of East Bay Owls” will descend on the Antioch Kiper development next Sunday. Turns out owls have more friends than beavers, and a host of riled defenders will show up and demand better treatment than eviction. I helped design the sign and put Scott in touch with some headwinds that will blow him in the right direction. I thought I’d share. If you’re interested in reminding the powers that be why its worth setting aside a few feet for wild things, write us and I’ll give the details and put you in touch with Scott. Several Worth A Dammers will be among the chorus. We’d love a host of children in owl costumes if you know of any.

Yours Owl-ways.

So last night I got a call from video man Moses. He’d been out in the wee hours of Christmas Eve shooting a little footage. Seems he got several beavers, some very chewed trees and a lovely sunrise. Guess what else he got footage of? Mom!

We haven’t seen Mother beaver since September, and some of us were more than a little worried she might have died. Her eye had been looking worse and worse, and we assumed her health had something to do with the absence of kits this year. Be that as it may, Moses brought over footage he had taken at 5 in the morning on Christmas that shows her happily chewing and eating willow.

The good news is that her right eye looks better. The bad news is that her left eye looks affected also. This is clearly sticking with her, although neither side looks damp or crusted like it used to do. Jeff Alvarez told us that if she had rubbed off her fur because of an irritation or condition, it would take a good while to grow back, so its hard to know if this will change.

Still, its lovely to see her again, steadily swimming, climbing, foraging and chewing. She was clearly untroubled by her condition and took it in stride. I’ll try that also.

Just read this news. Really heartbreaking. I guess you were ready, Vic. But I wasn’t.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me

A Dam in Alhambra Creek

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Two adult beavers and

A Dam in Alhambra Creek

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Three watching women

Two adult beavers and

A Dam in Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra 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 Alhambra Creek

 

And, in case you get some seasonal blahs, here’s some nondenominational Very Good Cheer!

Okay. It’s the real Eve. I have cookies to cut and beavers to decorate. I will leave you with this bit of cheer which never ever fails to make me smile. Especially the words “mostly” and “you know what?”

Meanwhile, supporter GP wrote Martin Salter, the anti-beaver MP in england, (as did many of you, thanks!) and got back a copy of his official pro-salmon anti-beaver paperwork, which I sent along to the beaver-salmon research group of Brock Dolman. And Scott of JournOwl has been working hard  to save the remaining owls with a ton of new supporters organized by SFEP Lisa Owen’s Viani. She has put him in touch with Michael Graf, the environmental attorney in El Cerrito that helped us with our sheet pile tragedy, and they may be able to get something slowed down legally. Our own VP Cheryl went and walked the area with Scott yesterday and took this photo of a remaining owl awaiting foreclosure.

Photos: Cheryl Reynolds

 

Ahhh. Even when I was a child, with no responsibilities but opening presents happily and remembering to say “thankyou”, I preferred Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. Very very soon I realized that the anticipation was (for me) better than the event itself. Thinking about what I would be given or the expression my sister would make when she opened her whatever, was always better than the actual experience itself. In part because imagination is Infinite and the event is finite. (And don’t even get me started talking about the depressing void of boxing day) So Christmas Eve was at the heart of the holiday season for me.

Now as an adult, Christmas Eve is more like the event itself. Because there are dinners to prepare, guests towels to assemble and counters to keep tidy. I have officially moved the glorious anticipation day up by 24 hours: to Christmas Eve, Eve. I invite you to try this as well.

Think about it. Christmas Eve, Eve, has almost no responsibilities, and if there are things that need to get done, there aren’t yet people they need to be done for. It’s buffered by a pleasant warm sense of good things to come, and a cozy fullness of life and possibility.

Beavers, on the other hand, are definitely Christmas Morning kinda of creatures. They don’t seem burdened much with anticipation or disappointment. They live in the “now” and have an enviable enthusiasm for whatever it is they’re doing at the moment, even though they’re able to plan ahead and work on future goals. A beaver can come the next day to a job sight carrying tools he decided he needed the day before, but never once during the intervening time worry about meeting his goals. S/he makes the plan. Executes the plan. Revises the plan. Shares the plan. And eats the plan.

Happy Christmas Eve, Eve. If you need more good cheer, check out beaver friend Joe Eaton’s article today in the Daily Planet about the otters in Jewel Lake. A certain beaver pond is mentioned.