The OAEC WATER Institute is hosting a Beaver Blitz to map current distribution of beaver (Castor canadensis) in Sonoma County. Beaver modify the landscape in ways that can be really beneficial to humans, our waterways and the species that inhabit them (learn more about our Bring Back the Beaver Campaign).
To register for this FREE event, go to www.inaturalist.org/projects/sonoma-county-beaver-blitz.
We will be meeting at 9 AM in the parking lot of the Sonoma Ecology Center which is located on the Sonoma Developmental Center campus near Glen Ellen. (Note that mapping services won’t help to find it.) Proceed to the main intersection of Sonoma Developmental Center at 15000 Arnold Drive. Turn east, away from the historic brick administration building, onto Harney Drive. Continue across a narrow bridge, and at the far side of the bridge take an immediate left onto our narrow, leafy driveway. Park in the lot at the end of the drive. View map (https://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=38.350559,-122.515245&t=h&z=17).
People of all ages and skill levels are welcome! You bring your curiosity, a charged smart phone with the iNaturalist app downloaded (or digital camera), and tons of enthusiasm. We’ll rally some experts and folks who know the county. Together we’ll make some science! Wear sturdy shoes, bring layers, a water bottle and a bagged lunch.
The fun happens on Saturday, October 8th. We’ll explore various locations in Sonoma County and document everything related to beaver presence we can find for a few hours, then we’ll all come back together to upload our observations, see what everyone else found, and get help with IDs.
The assessment will be ongoing until October 2017. If you cannot make it on the 8th, log on to see what we found and add any new observations we may have missed!
For more information contact Kate Lundquist at (707) 874-1557 x 118.
