Beavers Have Returned

Beavers have returned: 

it was only just over a month ago that I wrote of my wish for beavers to return to my local pond after an absence of close to two decades. They were a small presence here, just a few, but neighbors complained of tree damage and had them removed. There are other ponds in neighboring villages that support a healthy population so I wondered if they would eventually make their way back, following the stream system to return to my pond. 

and happily, beavers have returned. 

I hope they're able to stay. 

what I wrote of was the vital aspect beavers play in local ecosystem, that yes, some damage may occur, yet there are ways to mitigate that, working with the species so that the area itself thrives for all concerned. It seems vital to me that we finally learn this lesson, that we are not masters of our habitat in quite the same way that the wildlife is, and that it's time to finally place our trust in the wisdom of nature and not force our ways through every situation. It is possible, many areas have learned to coexist with wildlife to the benefit of every species. Now that beavers have returned, we have that unique opportunity help them thrive and watch an entirely now ecosystem come into play. 

I hope they're able to stay. 

so having so recently written of beavers I won't go into detail of their benefits to the land. Yes, there is short term damage to many trees, and there are also means to keep this to the minimum. Most importantly it's the human mind that has to adapt, to realize that our homes are part of a greater ecosystem at large, an earth based community that spreads farther than our eyes can reach. We're not separate from this, we're home, deeply so, within the very same landscape that holds everything from beavers to hawks, songbirds and moss covered rocks, and even, happily so, the few wandering bears that made their way through my neighborhood last year. 

they all belong. 

it's a continuous home for every species. 

I feel a responsibility here, like I've energetically called for beavers to return, having a strong desire for their presence here. I will advocate for them, be their voice in addressing my neighbors concerns. But honestly, I have small hope that they'll be allowed to remain. The ownership of land is strongly exclusive, property values being of the highest concern. I understand this, not putting anyone at fault, yet there's a unique opportunity here, a lesson on the inclusive reach of nature and how we can learn to adapt to it's ever changing ways. 

mostly importantly...

we can show that we belong to the land...

and not the other way around.

~

Peace, Eric