The Sierra Nevada beavers are now using PVC. It's a labor-saving innovation.
Okay, I'm pulling your leg.
I took this photo yesterday in Plumas County, where a homesteading beaver tempted fate by damming the creek next to the local landowner's house.
The "environmental logger" who lives across the road learned of his neighbor's resentment, and advised him to use PVC to trick the beaver.
The PVC device is a called the Clemson beaver pond leveler, but its really just a bipass of sorts.
According to the beaver specialists, "Beavers repair dams in response to the sight, sound, and feel of running water. The Clemson leveler transports water through a dam in such a way that beavers cannot sense it and as a result, beavers don't attempt to plug the leveler."
It doesn't work all the time, but so far it has given this beaver a stay of execution.
My beaver story doesn't involve a dam but a tree that was gnawed by a beaver. It was the first I'd seen. We were hiking around Grayson Lake, KY. Seeing that beaver would have made the whole experience even better. Hope all is well. Have a great night.
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating rodents. I get a thrill just finding their construction sites.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog trying to look up information on the 1965 California Condor Count. I got a hit on McMillan Country Camera trapping. My dad was a wildlife biologist with the CA Dept. of Fish & Game. He passed away two years ago, but in going through his things I found photos from the 1965 condor count which my dad went on. He actually went every year as he specialized in pesticides and their effect on wildlife. In one of the photos there are two men holding a condor and I'm wondering if one of them was Eben McMillan.
ReplyDeleteJeanne, if you are willing to scan and send me a jpg I could run it by Greg McMillan. I would love to see it. My email is chindwin@sbcglobal.net.
ReplyDeleteI've sent you the photo. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteA "stay of execution?" So this person can just kill the beaver if they want to? That is just wrong, wrong, wrong. But then I know that DFG will give out a depradation permit at the drop of a hat...but maybe wherever this is people just do as they please to the ever so annoying wildlife? I say move to the city if you don't want to let wildlife do what it needs to do. Sickening.
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