Innocuous In Innisfil 🇨🇦 (@[email protected])

Good Morning #Canada Finally... the moment you have been waiting for. It's Day #1 of #BeaverWeek. Who knows what fascinating facts of Castor Canadensis we will discover together this week. Our Beavers fought back from near extinction because their fur made awesome hats to become an increasingly important mammal restoring water conservation in an era of global warming. The odd double entendre, totally unintentional, of course, might slip into the conversation. The best place to start is with this highly interesting Canadian Geographic article that provides some history and habitat info on our beloved Beaver. #CanadaIsAwesome #ClimateChange https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/rethinking-the-beaver/

Mastodon Canada

Good Morning #Canada
Our recent move to Innisfil, with a short walk to Lake Simcoe, has provided us with hourly flyovers of Canada Geese. Another of our country's iconic animals respected for its monogamy, aerial prowess, and prodigious ability to crap everywhere. Throughout the day, we see hundreds passing overhead as they find resting spots on Cook's Bay, the southern arm of Lake Simcoe. On visits to our community beach, there are flotillas of geese too large to count. In the early 1900s, Canada Geese had been decimated due to habitat loss and hunting, but today it's estimated that there are more than 5 millon across North America thanks to conservation efforts and regulations.

I've had #BeaverWeek and #MooseWeek series. Don't be surprised if in the future I sneak up on you from behind with a Goose Week.

#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadaGoose
https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/animal-facts-canada-goose/

Animal Facts: Canada goose

Well-known for their long black necks and white cheeks, the Canada goose is a large wild goose that can be found in several regions across North America. 

Canadian Geographic

On the final day of #BeaverWeek, we focus on Beaver Rescue efforts. Many organizations across Canada care for injured Beavers, abandoned kits, or bonded pairs that have to be relocated. Here is a list of recognized Beaver rescue organizations (worldwide) in case you're feeling generous and looking for a charitable organization to support.

#CanadaIsAwesome
https://martinezbeavers.org/beaver-friendly-organizations/

Beaver-Friendly Organizations

              Select Beaver Ambassadors Beaver Ambassadors beaverambassadors.com         Select Beaver Deceivers, LLC Beaver Deceivers, LLC beaverdeceivers.com         Select Beaver Solutions Beaver Solutions beaversolutions.com         Select Beaver State Wildlife Solutions Beaver State Wildlife [...]

Good Morning #Canada
Capitalism certainly doesn't waste an opportunity, and as entrepreneurs were trying to make Beavers extinct, they made use of every part, including the Beaver's secretions. Castoreum is a yellowish exudate from the castor sacs of mature Beavers used in combination with urine to scent mark their territory. Butt for centuries Beaver Castor Oil was used to flavour food, make perfumes more interesting, and cure every ailment known to the human race. Rumors persist about its use in many products, but it's rarely used today. I will not make a tasteless, smelly Beaver joke this morning.... you're welcome.

#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek #Eewww
https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-history-of-flavoring-food-with-beaver-butt-juice/

A History of Flavoring Food With Beaver Butt Juice

No, castoreum is not a cheap substitute for strawberries; it’s luxe, artisanal secretions from a beaver's rear end.

VICE
Canadian Beaver

YouTube

Good Morning #Canada
We should thank Prince Albert for helping to save the Beaver. His choice of wearing a silk tophat in the mid 1800s has been cited as one of the reasons fashion moved away from Beaver hats and thereby saved them after almost 3 centuries of trapping. And silk hats were easier and cheaper to make. Whatever the reasons fashion almost made the Beaver extinct, first in Europe and then in North America. When fashion trends shifted, the Beaver was saved.

#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek #MadHatter
https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/nwc/history/01.htm

History - Beaver and other pelts

#BeaverWeek #Factoid

A Beaver's tail is flat, leathery, and sparsely haired. Beavers use it as a rudder for steering while swimming and as a prop to balance when standing or sitting on land. They will slap their tail on the water's surface to warn other Beavers of danger. Beavers store fat in their tails, especially before winter, to help them survive periods with limited food.

A Beavertail is also a famous Canadian pastry that was introduced in the winter of 1978 to skaters on the Rideau Canal. It's a great way to eat Beaver without harming any animals.

Good Morning #Canada
Conservationists who focus on restoration of wetlands are increasingly "Leaving It To Beaver." Beavers are considered the ultimate Keystone Species because they area they re-engineer offer benefits to many other species, and an entire ecosystem can collapse if a Beaver is removed. A Beaver dam doesn't just hold and conserve water. Beavers increase the population of frogs, fish, insects, birds, and small mammals and extend the range of larger mammals like moose, deer, and bears. The quantity and variety of vegetation are increased. Water is filtered and saturates the land, refilling artesian wells. It's unbelievable that we almost lost this amazing creature because of a hat fashion trend.

#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek
https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2021/01/01/leave-it-to-beavers-keystone-species-provides-nature-based-restoration/

Leave It to Beavers: Keystone Species Provides Nature-based Restoration

funny Molson Canadian beer commercial 'Chasing Beaver'

Funny Molson Canadian beer commercial 'Chasing Beaver'

YouTube

#BeaverWeek #Factoid

Beaver teeth are unique due to their iron-rich orange enamel, which makes them exceptionally strong and resistant to wear. These teeth continuously grow throughout the beaver's life, requiring constant chewing to maintain a manageable size and sharpness. The iron content in the enamel is what gives them their distinctive orange color and provides added strength.