Author Topic: First wild beavers for 500 years (Read 4107 times)

The 5th Benitle · « **on:** October 27, 2005, 03:07:37 pm »

Well I'll be dammed....

My mate sent me this email. Not sure quite why he was so excited but good to see the little blighters are back

Have a look at this article on the BBC News website. I never would have
known how useful beavers could be. No wonder they became extinct!
How the hell did they ever find out they had such beneficial
properties!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4380276.stm

hooded claw · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:09:35 pm »

*sits back and awaits the onslaught of puns*

Raul! · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:10:27 pm »

Lovely. Nice to see the return of wild beaver to England.

Raul! · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:16:40 pm »

I am told that this is where baby beavers come from - Beaver Craceek

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:23:22 pm »

Quote from: hooded claw on October 27, 2005, 03:09:35 pm

*sits back and awaits the onslaught of puns*

Did you think that was why I posted it, hoody? I'm most disappointed. This is a serious conservation and nature thread and I will not have it hijacked by pudenda jokes. I'll snatch the thread away if anyone makes puns on here.

Ken-Obi · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:42:58 pm »

Where there ever been beavers in the UK? I thought they're native only to Canada?

Tarpaulin · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:45:32 pm »

Some big hairy beavers there la.

Red Squiggle · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2005, 05:14:04 pm »

"the pain relaving properties of their anal glands"

IloveGuinness17 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2005, 05:21:19 pm »

Yes Beavers are quite useful.

LFCMunkee · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2005, 06:18:43 pm »

Yay! Go gloucestershire!

Raul! · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2005, 06:21:52 pm »

You think Glos. was a good place to pick to let beaver run wild?

LFCMunkee · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2005, 06:24:42 pm »

Quote from: Raul. on October 27, 2005, 06:21:52 pm

You think Glos. was a good place to pick to let beaver run wild?

Lol yep excellent place

BIGdavalad · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2005, 06:58:01 pm »

Quote from: The 5th Benitle on October 27, 2005, 03:23:22 pm

Did you think that was why I posted it, hoody? I'm most disappointed. This is a serious conservation and nature thread and I will not have it hijacked by pudenda jokes. I'll snatch the thread away if anyone makes puns on here.

Can't blame you mate. You have to dam the flood of puns.

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2005, 09:05:42 am »

I'm going to Gloucestershire on a beaver hunt this weekend now. Wood be nice to see some of them

Raul! · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2005, 09:24:15 am »

This is perhaps an inappropriate issue for a conservation thread but I'll try and satisfy my curiosity anyway.

Is beaver good to eat? I would imagine it might be a bit gamey but does it smell bad, like, say, fish? Also, beavers can be quite hairy. Do you recommend that the hair is shaved before it is eaten? Any particular side dishes that might be good with it? Cantaloupes come to mind, for example. What about a beaver sandwich? Sounds nice.

Thanks in advance for your replies and apologies to anyone who might feel squeamish after reading this post.

LFCMunkee · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2005, 09:31:30 am »

The 5th Benitle does it taste like chicken?!?

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #16 on:** October 28, 2005, 09:49:59 am »

Quote from: Raul. on October 28, 2005, 09:24:15 am

This is perhaps an inappropriate issue for a conservation thread but I'll try and satisfy my curiosity anyway.

Is beaver good to eat? I would imagine it might be a bit gamey but does it smell bad, like, say, fish? Also, beavers can be quite hairy. Do you recommend that the hair is shaved before it is eaten? Any particular side dishes that might be good with it? Cantaloupes come to mind, for example. What about a beaver sandwich? Sounds nice.

Thanks in advance for your replies and apologies to anyone who might feel squeamish after reading this post.

I believe the Brazilian variety is the most pleasant Raul. Bald ones have been sighted, the hair loss is thought to be because of stress

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2005, 09:50:25 am »

Quote from: LFCMunkee on October 28, 2005, 09:31:30 am

The 5th Benitle does it taste like chicken?!?

Gnaw it doesn't

BIGdavalad · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2005, 09:54:54 am »

Quote from: The 5th Benitle on October 28, 2005, 09:49:59 am

I believe the Brazilian variety is the most pleasant Raul. Bald ones have been sighted, the hair loss is thought to be because of stress

Indeed, ensure your beaver is thoroughly de-haired before eating as nothing is more irritating to the delicate human mouth than beaver hair.

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2005, 10:31:31 am »

Quote from: BIGdavalad on October 28, 2005, 09:54:54 am

Indeed, ensure your beaver is thoroughly de-haired before eating as nothing is more irritating to the delicate human mouth than beaver hair.

Yes. And particular the hair from dead beavers, which posh ladies sport as muffs

Derzyjudek · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2005, 11:44:04 am »

Quote from: BIGdavalad on October 28, 2005, 09:54:54 am

Indeed, ensure your beaver is thoroughly de-haired before eating as nothing is more irritating to the delicate human mouth than beaver hair.

and make sure it is thoroughly washed and eaten fresh as they can go off very quickly.

Raul! · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2005, 11:53:07 am »

Just wondering...does beaver taste better after a good pounding, like you would do for certain kinds of meat? Or would you expect just to use a light touch with bit of scented oil or something?

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2005, 12:04:16 pm »

Quote from: Raul. on October 28, 2005, 11:53:07 am

Just wondering...does beaver taste better after a good pounding, like you would do for certain kinds of meat? Or would you expect just to use a light touch with bit of scented oil or something?

I normally eat it as a starter myself, to ~~wet~~ whet my appetite for the main course

Raul! · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2005, 12:06:33 pm »

Interesting. What main course do you recommend after eating beaver?

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2005, 12:08:04 pm »

Quote from: Raul. on October 28, 2005, 12:06:33 pm

Interesting. What main course do you recommend after eating beaver?

Well, meat again but more of it. A nice juicy rump and some breast on the side normally does the trick

Raul! · « **Reply #25 on:** October 31, 2005, 09:00:55 am »

Quote from: The 5th Benitle on October 28, 2005, 09:05:42 am

I'm going to Gloucestershire on a beaver hunt this weekend now. Wood be nice to see some of them

How was the weekend?

Withnail · « **Reply #26 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:53:44 pm »

Quote from: Raul. on October 31, 2005, 09:00:55 am

How was the weekend?

in parts of gloucestershire they never died out, the rare 1 eyed (or winking) beaver can be seen quite regularly in the more rural areas such as the forest of dean.

Raul! · « **Reply #27 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:55:44 pm »

I believe that forest is quite sparse these days. Any effect on the beaver's performance?

Danny Boys Dad · « **Reply #28 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:59:31 pm »

How did anyone find out about the pain-relieving qualities of the beaver's "anal gland secretions"??

I mean if I was in pain and there was a beaver handy I wouldn't think of checking it's backside for something that might help, so how did they find out about it?

The report on the BBC also says that the beavers would "help keep waterways clear of debris" but I though that blocking waterways with dirty great big dams is what beavers do for fun?

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #29 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:22:58 pm »

Quote from: Raul. on October 31, 2005, 09:00:55 am

How was the weekend?

It was good but I lied about Gloucestershire, I was in Brussels. Not a beaver in sight sadly

Raul! · « **Reply #30 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:24:05 pm »

Ah Brussels, the Gloucestershire of the continent! Full of bureaucrats, beavering away...

Terry de Niro · « **Reply #31 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:27:52 pm »

There was some lovely Beaver in the pub I was in on saturday night...

Withnail · « **Reply #32 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:29:28 pm »

Quote from: Raul. on October 31, 2005, 12:55:44 pm

I believe that forest is quite sparse these days. Any effect on the beaver's performance?

depends on the type of beaver. brazilian beavers only have a soggy creak and a thin strip of forestation, and yet they are thriving.

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #33 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:42:33 pm »

Quote from: Withnail on October 31, 2005, 01:29:28 pm

depends on the type of beaver. brazilian beavers only have a soggy creak and a thin strip of forestation, and yet they are thriving.

They tend not to have sharp teeth either which is always a bonus when you're poking around examining them

Raul! · « **Reply #34 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:44:18 pm »

Yes, but I have heard that they can snatch things out of your hand.