Good News from Unexpected, November 2009
First, let me thank all of you for renewing your annual membership to The Beaver Defenders. It is really good news when I can say that renewal numbers were “off the charts”! Thank you so much for the financial support and the vote of confidence.
Thanks also to Boy Scout Troop 65 for two service days this year. The boys first worked on the trails for a day in September, then came back in October and installed 10 bluebird nest boxes along the woodline in the Codario Farm fields. Thanks also to all the volunteers who showed up in late summer to help open up the trails. Having injured my hand in August, I am so grateful for your help and kindness in a moment of need.
A very special thank you goes out to dear friend and President of Osprey Environmental Associates, Ben Gindville, for donating his wetland delineation services here at Headquarters. We are finally forced to address the failing septic system here at the cabin, and Ben’s contribution helped keep costs down that much more.
As I ruminate upon all that I am thankful for, it is raining. That is usually when I like to write (and ruminate). Based upon the amount of rain we have gotten this summer I could have penned a novel or two.
Photo by Michael Hogan
When the weather is wet and rainy, I don’t feel the pull of the sun tugging on me to do things outside. I personally find it uncomfortable and distracting to be in the rain, especially as I grow older. It fascinates me that other creatures don’t seem to mind the rain the way I do. I have been sitting here working at the computer for several hours now, and it has been raining steadily — a cold late fall rain. I have, as I work, also been spying on a regal and very composed bald eagle who has been perched on a branch hanging over Main Pond. He has his back to me and is looking upstream with steady interest, his white head turned in profile to show off that classic yellow beak. He seems, as do the other birds in the pond, quite unaware of the rain and sits quietly, occasionally preening — moving a feather here or there.
When I heard the high-pitched chirp I stopped working and pulled up my glasses again. My subject had been joined by another larger eagle, who placed herself about three feet away from his perch. He turned to look at his company and then turned away, dismissing her. The large bird shook herself out from head to tail, causing a fuss in the downpour. She then hopped closer to her companion, bent toward his face and breast and begged attention. He dismissed her again, and after two or three minutes of this amorous harassment, he flew upstream to a solitary stump rising out of the water. So much for raptor-romance in the rain.
I have had more success watching eagles than beavers here. I still see the large beaver, but she is not in the mood to hang around and entertain me. She comes out at dusk, takes one look at me, slaps the water and chugs upstream on her rounds. Her pond is full, overflowing the Dike and flooding the boards. Her beloved spadderdock, her tasty summer snack, is now drowned by several inches of water.
I spend quite a bit of time sitting on the Dike, waiting and watching. Some evenings are quiet and peaceful, but often the still late afternoon is shattered by the annoying and incessant drone of ATVs that tear up the sand roads surrounding the Refuge, and sometimes the Refuge itself.
I find these vehicles offensive, and I find the riders to be (not always-but most often) rude and insensitive to the rights of private property owners and environmentally sensitive habitat. I also find the current laws regulating ATV use sorely lacking, especially in the area of enforcement. Vehicles and riders are anonymous, and law enforcement officers are prohibited from pursuing them.
I received and read a copy of Thrillcraft — The Environmental Consequenses of Motorized Recreation (Edited by George Wuerthner, Chelsea Green Pub. Co., copyright 2007 by the Foundation for Deep Ecology). This book documents the history of ATVs (what Douglas Tompkins more accurately defines in this book as thrillcraft).
“All-terrain vehicles, jet skis, swamp buggies, oversized four-wheel-drive trucks, and other destructive machines”-“foster a pathologically individualistic attitude, a follow-no-one ethos that revs up the adolescent male in every user, regardless of age or gender.”
It explores the mindset behind the need to tear up our lands and the result of unchecked unregulated use of these vehicles on our National Parklands. (I was very disappointed to find that Ken Burn’s PBS aired series on our National Parks did not even mention this explosive epidemic of unbridled vandalism and destruction.) From the Everglades of Florida to the Adirondack Mountains in New York to the Glamis Sand Dunes of California, week-long events draw thousands of thrill-seekers to get behind the wheel and tear up our national treasures, pollute the environment and destroy whole ecosystems.
The book, I found, for the most part, depressing and hopeless in successfully describing the massive problem this small special interest group is causing. I encourage everyone to contact your local, state and federal representatives and demand public scrutiny of this industry and the development of a comprehensive system of regulation and enforcement for thrillcraft use.
I was fortunate enough to have seen many of our pristine Parks, forests and monuments as a child. It is heartbreaking to think that they are not held worthy of protecting from a gang of thoughtless vandals.
NJ State Climatologist is Using Your CoCoRaHS Data
(NJ Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network) —
Summer 2009 Overview
(From RiverCurrents — GEHWA’s Newsletter, Summer 2009)
If you think New Jersey had a wet summer, you are correct! The statewide total for June through August was 19.18". This is 6.34" above average and ranks as the 5th wettest summer since 1895 and the wettest since 1975. Three diligent observers in Lawrence Township (Mercer) recorded the largest seasonal totals, with an average of 26.41". Next wettest was Washington Township (Mercer) with 25.47", followed by Califon (Hunterdon) with 24.37" and Glen Rock (Bergen) with 23.74". The lowest totals were found in three counties, including Eatontown (Monmouth) at 15.31", Middle Township (Cape May) with 15.45" and Bridgeton (Cumberland) with 15.65". Even these values are above average, explaining why reservoirs are nearly full as summer ends when they are normally close to 75% of capacity. It certainly was a green summer across the Garden State. For detailed information, visit the Office of the NJ Sate Climatologist’s website http://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim/.
It’s that time of year again! Patrol has begun!
Please join us at Unexpected for another patrol season. We can use your help walking the perimeter trails and watching for trespassers.
If you have some free time, please contact me and make arrangements to come walk —even an hour on the trail is helpful. It’s healthy too — studies show only ten minutes of walking a day can benefit brain function and help keep those cold weather pounds off. Trails may be wet, so wear appropriate footwear. Six-day firearms season runs from Monday, December 7th, to Saturday, the 12th — food provided!
The Beaver Moon
In November, the full moon is known as the Beaver Moon. Some believe that this is because in November it was time to set beaver traps. Others (myself included) like to think is was because during this time beavers switched it into high gear to get ready for winter, harvesting food for the pantry and shoring up dams and lodges.
This issue of The Beaver Defender is dedicated to my dear friend, Joe Trujillo
The first time I met Joe, I had been Hope’s Assistant Director for eight months. The Outdoor Club of South Jersey (OCSJ) was scheduled for a Earth Day Cleanup on Piney Hollow Road at Unexpected Wildlife Refuge. It was late March, cold and raining. Dubious that anyone would show up, I pulled on my boots and rain coat and went outside. Everyone was waiting for me and when incredulous that anyone showed up at all, I was informed by Joe “Well, we are the Outdoor Club!” Joe co-led eight more annual cleanups.
After that, I made it a point to join the club, and I participated in Joe’s hikes exclusively. He would be walking out front and say “Get up here, girl, and talk with me. You can walk and talk at the same time, can’t you?” Honestly, sometimes when hiking with Joe it was not so easy to do both.
Joe was a leader, but he was also a very caring and sensitive friend. During hunting season it is very hard to get away from the Refuge. But on Thanksgiving Day, in 2008, I was given the day off. The last time I saw Joe, he showed up that morning and took my shift, so that I could make dinner with my Mother. When he finished his day of patrol, he came into the kitchen, removed his hat, gave me his “report”, gave me a big bear hug and wished us a happy Thanksgiving.
Joe Trujillo — May 10, 1920 - July 13, 2009
Joe was a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II, Korea and Viet Nam. He ended his career as a Sergeant Major at the Defense Personnel Support Center in Philadelphia. Shortly after retirement 1975, he began volunteering with the OCSJ. He had served as President and currently served as Activities Coordinator. Joe was an avid hiker and backpacker who had visited most of our 50 states during his travels. His favorite area, however, was the West, having grown up in New Mexico and Colorado. Joe loved all things outdoors especially wildflowers. His love of nature, poetry, John Wayne and the Dallas Cowboys will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
— John Keats, Endymion, Book I
DVD Coming from Beaver Solutions this Spring!
How to Design and Build Flow Devices
I am in the early stages of filming for the development of a DVD to train people how to design and build successful flow devices.
Since 1998 we have installed effective flow devices at over 700 sites in six states here in the Northeast. My goal for this DVD project is to share my experiences and hopefully allow many people across the country to use these technologies to promote coexistence with beavers. As such I would be happy for your assistance in getting the word out in NJ and the DVD distributed.
I am working with a professional production company to create this DVD. Work on it will begin in earnest this December. My hope is that it will be ready to distribute by April, in time for next season.
I am very willing to give people free advice by e-mail or phone if they are interested in installing a flow device.
Mike Callahan, Owner
Beaver Solutions
14 Mountain Road; Southampton, MA 01073
Cell: (413) 695-0484
Office: (413) 527-6472
Web: www.beaversolutions.com
Unexpected Rat Update
For those of you who were wondering what was up with our little rat family, here is a brief update:
Ratman and Bobbin are still with us, having now lost all three sisters. They are getting up there, now 37 months today. This is surprising considering the average age for a fancy rat is about two years, based upon what I have read. Bobbin is turning gray and their hair has fallen out in patches. Ratman has a lot of problems with his legs and Bobbin’s lost most of his teeth. They are not the handsome duo of a year ago.
They are still totally devoted to each other, cleaning and preening and playing with each other, though not so rough as in their youth. They have a good diet and still roam around the three story cage, albeit at an old man’s pace.