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Monday 27 June 2016

Beaver Tale

There are many interesting animals living along the boardwalk by the bay. While we have not seen it yet, there is at least one beaver which is working to dam one of the streams which empties into the bay. It must be frustrated though.

We have seen the water level rise just north of the trail at one location but didn't realize beavers were responsible.

 

One day, another walker told us about the huge beaver he saw swimming up the stream. 

 

Later we saw the same man coming out of the area where the beaver dam appears to be. He stopped to explain that he destroys the dam 

 

every day he walks because the city would move the beavers if they flooded the trail area because of their dam.

Beavers need deep water for protection from predators, as well as to float food and building material for their lodge. If the beavers can't achieve a sufficient depth of water, they will move anyway.

 

Besides the flooding, others are concerned about the number of trees the large rodents chop down. However, there is a new hotel/spa being built along the trail by a foreign industrialist. 

 

As a result, trees have been cleared from the area in front of and on either side of the structure,

 

 but also on the seaward side of the boardwalk. 

 

Nature does not trump jobs.

Remember the song Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell? Written in 1970, the song   "goes to show" how little has changed. We still "pave paradise to put up a parking lot."


We hope to see the beavers before they decide to leave on their own or are evicted.


26 comments:

DJan said...

We have beavers around here, too. I've seen their work in the forest and am glad that our wildlife managers protect them when they build in the right places. I also lament how little has changed since Joni wrote that song. In 1970, more than fifty years ago now. :-(

ADRIAN said...

I think they are introducing beavers here somewhere. I'll try and find out where.
Nature doesn't trump profit anywhere.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

"Trump" is an appropriate choice of word.

Joanne Noragon said...

Yes, the balance can be less than delicate. In my national park world, beavers still get in trouble and deer are culled.

Anvilcloud said...

There was a bushy area near us when we first moved here. Sadly, much was soon cut down for a development. Thankfully, they did leave a nice wooded walkway near the river.

Marie Smith said...

We will never learn I fear!

Marie Smith said...

You are correct! Nature takes a back seat everywhere. That's why the climate is threatened!

Marie Smith said...

I thought the same! Lol!

Elephant's Child said...

Sigh. And while other animals will 'cull' us for food, they don't do so for convenience.
I sometimes despair of our greedy species. And would love to see a beaver.

Marie Smith said...

There is a fine balance until profits are involved it seems.

Marie Smith said...

Greenbelts have been included in some developments at least.

Marie Smith said...

I despair sometimes too but try not to get stuck in it. Growing some food, keeping a garden, volunteering at the hospital garden, teaching the grandchildren about growing food all help I think. If each does her part, it all helps.

Barbara said...

I have never seen a beaver building a dam in real life. I wish I could see it.

Marie Smith said...

They are industrious creatures. A wonder of nature really!

photowannabe said...

It's hard to see nature disturbed in favor of money...
I guess it's progress.
Great photos and story to go with them.

Mage said...

I too love beavers and hate the leveling of trees for parking lots.

Marie Smith said...

Thank you. For me, age has made money less important than the environment.

Marie Smith said...

It is the reality, sad though it is.

Joni said...

Beavers are fascinating animals. I don't like to see development that destroys their habitat but fortunately wildlife can be quite resourceful. I hope that will be the case here. (Ah yes, Joni Mitchell, an old favorite!)

Marie Smith said...

Love Joni too. Let's hope the beavers find their way!

Anonymous said...

Probably Trump. He would build something on paradise. I think capitalism is wonderful, but we need to harness it. I wonder what laws/rules were ignored to build this obscenity? The really bad thing is the people who will come to stay and enjoy the view and think, "isn't it great that someone built this nice spa where before there was nothing but scrubland? Ignorance is bliss, and none are so blind as they who cannot or will not see.

Marie Smith said...

This is the second attempt to have a hotel/spa on this site. This one isn't a done deal yet by the look of it. The last one was partially built and abandoned, becoming an eye sore. We'll see what happens with this latest version.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

We've had the same issue with the beavers at our arboretum and my husband would daily break down most of what they did overnight to prevent a change in water flow to our inland lake. It was an electric room when a fellow from the town told me he'd just go in and shoot them and leave the bodies for the coyotes. Not during my lifetime and I threatened to use social media to support the beavers. They continue to live happily but have sure cut down a lot of trees. :-)

Marie Smith said...

Thank you for sharing. Yay for the beavers and the support you gave them!

Emma Springfield said...

Thank you for sharing this post. I'm sure the beavers will move on if they can. They like privacy away from humans if possible.

Marie Smith said...

We have seen them co-exist with humans before in our last home. Their home was along a trail then too. It seemed to work well there.