Here’s the best proof I know of that we have truly gone through the looking glass and are living in a new beaver world. These pictures were taken in the Monte Verde wetlands where we have been vainly trying to help the local beavers for years.

This is what our Martinez Beavers never shared, at least with me or Cheryl or Moses. It must be something urban beavers are fairly private about because it took even Mike a while to film first hand.

OMG! Check out this incredible footage … and TURN UP THE VOLUME! Last night I had an up-close, front row seat as ChewBarka chewed down a small tree. I basically recorded it from just after his first bite until the tree fell. I love the sound of him cutting through the wood with his very sharp incisor teeth. I was only a few feet away, and the little tree smacked me on the way down. After the tree fell, he dragged it to the water and started to eat.. He was still eating an hour later when I went home because it was dark.

I am still working on the activity for next year’s festival. unfortunately now without a graphics program, But I can say with all sincerity that every single thing I am learning about pollinators is blowing my mind.

Just take today’s fact about the Western Tiger Swallowtails. I think everyone’s heard  about the twirly random way they fly being due to following smells not sights. but I bet you didn’t know how they find out if they landed on the right flower.

They taste it with their FEET.