Good News from Unexpected, July 2011
Since we are still celebrating Unexpected Wildlife Refuge’s 50th year, I thought I would share some thoughts about my pivotal decision to join Hope in her endeavor to guide and grow this Refuge. She passed away ten years ago last month, and I still remember our long conversations in her dark living room in the evenings. I remember the first time we met. She was very weak, and moments before I was interviewed by the Board, she met me out front — she said she only had three questions for me.
“Can you drive a stick shift?” “Yes.” I answered. Her second question. “Can you split firewood?”“No, but I can certainly learn.” I replied. And her third, with a mischievous smile, “Do you play Scrabble?” “Yes, I do, and I’m very good,” my mischievous smile matching hers. “Carry on.” she said and sat in her lawn chair in front of her cabin.
She taught me about beavers, through those conversations and through her fabulous “beaver library” which we are constantly improving. She would lend me a book, always making sure that was absolutely clear. She lamented so many books lost to borrowers who forgot that important word — “lend”. She did express the hope that the missing book improved them in some way, however.
I met Hope on the first of June, 2000. She was very ill, and did not stray far from her couch. At age 87, she was recovering from a horrible bout of shingles and was in constant pain from the subsequent nerve damage. Her daughter, Nermin, lived with her and they looked after each other to some extent. We all settled into a pattern.
My schedule was full for sure. Having been accepted by the Board of Trustees as her successor at some point in the near future, I was learning everything I could from her about how to run the Refuge. I was working as an environmental scientist at a large local engineering firm. It certainly wasn’t my dream job, having been a tree hugging activist and vocal environmental advocate during the Reagan era. Basically, most of my efforts went toward obtaining permits from the NJDEP for the NJDOT to fill in wetlands for roadway improvements. When in college, you get this degree thinking that you are going to change the world, but graduate to the reality that most jobs available are in the private sector on the “other side”.
My typical day, after becoming Hope’s right hand, was hectic for sure. I would get up in the morning and walk my dog, Lucy, go to work. At lunch, I would come home and walk Lucy. Again, after work I went home, changed into my other “work clothes”, ate dinner and walked Lucy. Then off to the Refuge where I would execute a list of chores for Hope until dark. After dark, she and I would play a game of Scrabble, talk and then I would go home to bed only to get up the next day and do it again.
By September, the days were getting shorter, and I was exhausted. I was preparing to move to the Miller House at the Refuge, which would make things a little easier, but I was still basically doing two jobs; one I loved the other I liked less and less (except for the paycheck!).
One evening, I was sitting on the Long Boardwalk with Helga, a member of the Board. We were talking about this situation and going through the pros and cons of each job. It was a still, quiet evening with summer winding down around us. The brown water flowed below us as we sat in front of an old abandoned beaver lodge.
We stopped talking and just observed the quiet moment together, holding our thoughts. From around the lodge remains, a tiny V appeared in the water. The V silently glided toward our spot on the cool concrete. It was the face of a very tiny beaver — the first I had ever seen with my own eyes. It tread water three feet in front of us, gazing at us as we looked at her; I was holding my breath. She then turned and paddled her way back from whence she came. The next day I gave my two weeks notice to my supervisor.
Hope and I worked together for a little more than a year — a year and three weeks — before she died. During that time, she taught me everything she could, and we played 340 games of Scrabble in that cabin. When she held my hand and thanked me for taking the mantle of Beaver Lady from her, she had just trounced me at our last game.
She said, “This is a good place to stop.” After I went over the old stained score pad, I discovered that she had won 170 games, and I had won 170 games. A good place indeed.
Carry On!
So let’s catch up with the good news! Called to many places by reputation, I am working for the beavers on multiple fronts. From Clearview High School, to Washington Township, to Princeton Township, and beyond; I am passing out Sherri Tippi’s fabulous handbook on dealing with beavers, a DVD by Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife on how to build and install a successful flow device and our literature on why beavers are more beneficial to us alive. We’ve advised golf courses and home owners and municipalities. After the heinous shooting of two beavers in Princeton Township’s conservation area, I have offered my services to Mayor Goerner to assist his administration in creating a long-term, life-saving Beaver management policy for the township. I sent him the aforementioned materials along with a couple issues of this newsletter so he can learn something about our preservation area. I have called to follow up with little luck — we will see what happens, but as you have probably figured out by now, I don’t go away easily.
Earth Day Clean-up Crew
We had a fantastic turnout for the annual Piney Hollow Road Earth Day Clean-up with many new faces showing up to enjoy picking trash and slinging hash. A special thanks to Bill and Thea for our new trash enclosure to keep out our raccoon friends. The annual Frog Walk with Froggy Fred Akers and his wife Julie was also a hit. We were lucky to have four youngsters out in the woods with us that night — something of a rarity these days. Even though the frogs were a little quiet this year, I think everyone had a wonderful and unique experience. A bonus for me was to see Claire and Rob, two great Beaver Defenders from Virginia — I met them here just days after getting this job 11 years ago.
Jared works on the benches
Congratulations to Jared Novak, our 9th Boy Scout to complete his Eagle Scout Leadership Project here. Jared, who is in Troop 65, Haddonfield, constructed a Beaver Viewing Platform next to the Main Pond. Jared creatively overcame unexpected challenges to reach his goal. We now have an easily accessible and comfortable spot next to the pond to watch our furry friends on the water.
Speaking of beavers, Mom has given birth to this year’s kittens. She is out briefly in the evening to take a break from her motherly duties and have an apple snack. The yearlings are all still here and fine, and Dad still does not like me. I hope to see the new babies soon; it is like no other experience to see a tiny new beaver kitten. It will make you hold your breath, and it may even make you quit your job.