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 Beavers are Back

On rare Sundays when he was not working, or sick, or out of town, our father would take us to the wild woods, the meadows – empty of people – the forests, rivers and hidden lakes. It is just our small family in nature, no crowds. Back in 1959, there were no man-made paths, nature areas, or visitor centers, signs to explain the natural wonders. It was utter freedom and beauty, nature organizing itself in the relaxed harmony that eludes humans. I still remember the first time he shows us beavers and their landscaping skills – I am in awe and in love! What superb architects, artists, and engineers the beavers are. Humans can’t do what they do. At age five, I have already decided that I want to become an architect. Papa explains to us the work and construction skills of the beavers. It strikes me that the beavers’ minds seem to contain an overview of big stretches of land. They know collectively where to fell trees with their sharp teeth, build dams and homes, make streams meander, create a marsh. A paradise filled with fish, storks, water fowl, dragonflies, beautiful lush meadows teeming with wild flowers. As a six-year-old girl I do not know how lucky my siblings and I are to witness these wonderful animals with our own eyes. A few years later the beavers are almost extinct all over Europe. So, when I listen to this episode of the Snap Judgement podcast, I am chuckling the whole way through – in pure delight!
 

LISTEN
 
The Belgian Beaver Bandit with his endearing French accent, is a wonderful and tenacious rebel, trying to reintroduce beavers, and breaking Belgian rules of the Ministry of Conservation. “You don’t have to follow rules like East German Nazis,” he says at some point. This makes me laugh hard! For years smuggling beavers – 101 altogether – into France releasing them into the river where they finally travel into Belgium to settle and do they magic restoration of the landscapes there. He never gets caught in action. And later on, he escapes punishment by pure luck, as they miss evidence in his home when he gets raided. Many years later, now married with children and engaging in nature advocacy work, he does one more smuggling of beavers, and he is amazed at how scared he is! This resonates deeply with me. Getting older and looking back at my fierceness and courage when volunteering for four years in a federal women’s prison 33 years ago, doing all kinds of illegal things – I won’t self-incriminate here, even though I am now a citizen – getting away with all I needed to do, never getting caught. By nature, I am a rebellious person, never really following conventions and rules, rather making my own judgements and rules, whether in the artmaking process, or in personal life. So, the Belgian Beaver Bandit is my kind. And the Beavers are my kind!
 

 
Perhaps the beavers imprinted themselves into my own inner blue print as an artist. The ability to create, build, organize and care for the bigger community and collective, for the benefit of all. Not just for the small blood family. Never mind the fact that the beaver fur trade was a huge business world-wide. A ruthless capitalist undertaking, ravaging the lands’ resources, vilifying and driving to extinction wild animals, and reaping in the profits. For the past 50 years, beavers have been re-introduced all over America, Europe, and the world. Bavaria has been on the forefront. Whatever damages they bring for farmer’s and others are re-imbursed. People are taught how to protect private property if necessary. Co-existence is possible. Read up on the stories from all over the world about this kind of restoration of land with the help of beavers. It will lift your spirit. They offer excellent solutions for flooding and wildfire, biodiversity and rewilding.
 

Prints from linoleum cuts I made in January 2023 for the Lunar New Year.
 
 


Comments

  1. Alex KDecember 30, 2024 at 1:15 PM

    Delightful guy full of goodness adventure and courage. I can see how your spirit resonates with his

    ReplyDelete
  2. EcraigJanuary 3, 2025 at 10:10 AM

    i love this story of the beavers, I've had a similar thought recently watching my dog get lost in the scents of the woods that I can't even beginning to imagine - there's a whole world of smells he's a part of that my body and mind aren't smart enough to understand. Humans are definitely not Earth's greatest inventors!

    ReplyDelete

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