Comments on: Tigers & Primal Ranting, oh my!

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:32:04 +0000

Re: the late Beaver:
Being in the south bay, I’m not familiar with the whole beaver dam issue. But I do know that if a wild animal is ill, and especially if the illness impairs functioning (like the beaver who was blind and ill, and died), an early death is inevitable. Perhaps the modification to the dam did exacerbate its condition, but if it hadn’t, some other stress would’ve overcome the youngster. This is the downside to natural selection: the fit enough (not the “fittest”, the fit enough) survive to breed, and those prone to debilitating illness don’t pass on their genes.

Life is very hard sometimes, especially for those of us who can empathise with the beaver’s situation.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:24:50 +0000

UPDATE ON FREELOADER:
After several days of putting out cat food, only to bring it in almost untouched, I went out tonight to find an empty food dish and a hungry Freeloader waiting by my back door. He’s putting some weight on that injured front paw now, and was very glad for the food. He was also remarkably dry, given the rain and wind today. Maybe another neighbor took him in for a few days. Anyway, he’s alive and healing. Yay!!!

It doesn’t excuse the behavior of his people, though.

By: Beaver Dave

Beaver Dave — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:38:37 +0000

Gary,
In my comment, I said that the beaver was injured based on the Jan. 3 article from the CC Times–”Martinez beaver may be injured.” You seem confident that the beaver’s distress and ultimate death were caused solely by illness, not injury. Did you see the city’s work in the creek yesterday? Well, I did (I work in Martinez). The city’s work was disruptive and done with a disregard for the likely impacts on the beaver family, one of whom evidently was ill and vulnerable to stress. Under the circumstances, it’s not surprising that an animal death resulted. That’s blood that the city has on its hands. Normally, I think of you as a friend of animals–someone who sides with animals, especially when they are abused or harassed by humans. It puzzles and disappoints me that you seem to think that the city’s conduct is fine. I frankly expected better from you of all people. In any event, I hope that the veterinarian conducting the post-mortem exam will not jump to conclusions and will investigate all potential causes, including physical injury from city’s operation, stress, poisoning, intentional blinding, etc.

By: heartbroken in mtz

heartbroken in mtz — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:16:15 +0000

i am in total agreement with beaver dave. to reduce the dam that much was totally unnecessary as the city already had an emergency removal plan firmly in place to protect against flooding.
and any east coast “expert” leveling-device installer/salesman who would go along with the city’s request to lower the dam that much is certainly no friend of the beavers.
the city of martinez should be ashamed of the way it is treating these animals and i agree that a boycott is in order.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:06:36 +0000

To Beaver Dave:
The beaver that was taken to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum on Thursday afternoon was NOT injured. It appears to be suffering from a progressive neurological disease that has caused it to become blind. Signs of this problem in the immature male beaver appeared in the kit soon after birth. You can find out more about this in my latest blog entry for today (Jan. 4). The City of Martinez actually appears to be working very closely with the beaver-loving residents of Martinez and the beavers. /Gary

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:40:14 +0000

AnimalLover,
thanks for your support. In my rant, I’m not really complaining about Freeloader being an outside kitty or even not being neutered (though my own cats are fixed and kept indoors). What I’m REALLY furious about is the neglect in the face of an injury, and the implications for a territorially-minded tomcat who, in his own mind, NEEDS to fight for his territory. And although I understand that cats can take an illogical dislike to almost anybody, I’ve never before seen one run FROM its owner, when in distress, and not cornered (being cornered can confuse any cat). That suggests an unacceptably bad relationship between cat and owner. GRRRR.

Gary, thanks for publishing my Rant.
Karen

By: Beaver Dave

Beaver Dave — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:28:45 +0000

The SF Zoo tiger attack justifiably attracted a lot of news attention, but another big animal story is happening today (Jan. 3) in Martinez. The City of Martinez has virtually destroyed the beaver dam in Alhambra Creek and seems to be hell-bent on harassing and eventually killing the beaver family. One injured beaver has been taken to Lindsay Museum. I hope he or she is not seriously injured and will recover. But it frankly won’t surprise me if the entire family of beavers is adversely affected by the city’s sudden and excessive attack on their dam. For those Contra Costans who care about animals, I suggest a boycott of businesses in Martinez. To express my displeasure at the city’s cold, calculated tactics (i.e., intentional injury or killing of beaver family), I have stopped buying things in Martinez. I hope others will join me by hitting back at this disgraceful city in its pocketbook.

By: AnimalLover

AnimalLover — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:20:37 +0000

There are alot of pet owners like that of Freeloader. There are owners where I live that keep their kitties outside. They had a small cat “tent” by their front porch for one of their cats, the other sleeps on top of their car or visits other neighbors come rain, snow or shine. People have offered to adopt them, but they won’t give them up. Who knows why…