KOBRAS, VA TÕBRAS,
on vastupidiselt mu eilsele optimistlikule arvamusele (vt eelmine postitus) ilmselt ojasängi mööda edasi liikunud, parema tammiehituskoha otsinguil. Nii et täna, kui kaameratega jahile läksime, polnudki kedagi pildistada. Peate leppima eilsete, väheke uduste fotodega.

Niisiis, KOBRAS. Wow. WOW!! Viie aasta jooksul, mil siin kanjonikaldal elanud oleme, pole kobrastest märkigi olnud. Õigemini märgid küll on, aga aastakümnete vanused. Jämedad langetatud puud, ilmeksimatult kopratöö. Noist kuldaegadest, mil kohalikud farmerid veel kogu vett Willow Creek'ist välja ei imenud, et kõrbetingimustes porgandiseemet kasvatada ja seda kusagil Aasias kalli raha eest maha müüa. Oops, did I just say that? See on tegelikult üsna kõrvetav teema meil siin Kesk-Oregonis. Farmerid vs loodushoid. Võtaksin pikemalt ette, aga eelnevalt peaksin end väga rahulikuks mediteerima. Nii et täna räägime vaid koprast, onju.

Ühesõnaga, lähevad Paul ja Lillikene eile hommikusele kanjonituurile, mina asjatan majas. Ühtäkki telefonikõne. Paulilt. Et visaku ma kõrvale, mida iganes hetkel teen, ja tulgu vaadaku, mis nemad leidsid. Kuna Paul mind ilmaski asjata ei alarmeeri, ajasin kibekähku rõivad ülle, saapad jalga, ja padavai kanjonikaldast alla, oja suunas. No ja seal ta oligi, kopraonu, suur nagu mägi, ametis oma tammiga, kord veepinnal, siis taas jää alla kadudes. Me Pauliga käitusime nagu poolsegased, kargasime õnnelikult ringi ja klõpsisime pilte teha, samal ajal üritades hääli tasasena hoida ja iseennast ning koera veeaugust viisakas kauguses, et ehitustöid mitte häirida. Loodetavasti ei ole meie süüdi, et kobras tänaseks tollest konkreetsest ojakäänust kadunud on. Ning loodetavasti kohtame teda mõnel tulevastest jalutuskäikudest. Ehk on tal tammiehitamine siis juba paremini õnnestunud. Mitte et ma arvaks, et koprast asisem insener olen, aga mu arust valis ta ehitustöödeks liiga laia ojaosa. Ma ei kujuta ette, kui palju pajuoksi peaks sinna langetama, et korralik tamm tekis?
Kaks esimest fotot Paulilt.
Ahjaa, seda ka veel, et toreda kokkusattumusena Looduskalender kopra aasta loomaks valinud. 

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OREGON, THE BEAVER STATE:
"Oregon designated the beaver (Castor canadensis) as the official state animal in 1969. A beaver appears on the reverse of the state flag, and Oregon's nickname is The Beaver State (stemming from the early 19th century when fur hats were fashionable and Oregon’s streams were an important source of beaver). Beavers were over-trapped by early settlers for their fur, eliminating them from much of their original range. Native Americans and early settlers also ate beaver meat. The trapping routes used by early "mountain men" later became known as "The Oregon Trail," traveled by thousands of pioneers in the 1840's. Through management and partial protection, the beaver is reestablished throughout Oregon.
Beavers are common throughout Oregon’s waterways and riparian areas.  They continue to grow throughout their lives and can reach 65 pounds (30 kg) and up to four feet (120 cm) in length.  They range in color from reddish brown to almost black. While having poor eyesight, beavers have a keen sense of smell and use it to detect predators, find food and recognize family members. Contrary to popular belief, beavers do not eat fish, they are herbivores eating a variety of aquatic plants and the soft inner bark of trees.

Beavers are the second-largest rodent in the world (after the capybara) and are closely related to squirrels. Known as "nature's engineer," the beaver's dam-building activities are important to natural water flow and erosion control. It has been said that next to humans, beavers do more to shape their environment than any other animal. They build dams across waterways creating ponds behind them and then build their lodges in the center of the pond.  The lodges have an underwater entrance, keeping the beavers safe from predators. Beaver ponds create important habitat for many other species. Streams and rivers throughout the country where beaver dams are present have higher clarity levels and lower pollution levels.  This is believed to be a result of the beaver dams slowing water and allowing these things to settle to the bottom." Read more: and more:  
February 14/2019
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe