Beaver Festival Once Again A Hit

Though attendance was slightly down from last year, but still a respectable 1,000 or so showing up to celebrate the Martinez beavers, the 2012 version of the Beaver Festival was a hit, according to organizer Heidi Perryman. 

"The festival was a hoot," she said. "There were more booths and a better overall wildlife feel."

Booths representing the Marine Mammal Center and the Coyote Project, both from Marin, were on hand, as was the River Otter Ecology Project from Pt. Reyes, and groups from Sonoma, in addition to the other booths that have been regulars from years past.

Surprising everyone this year was long-time beaver advocate Bob Rust, the first person to photograph the beavers in 2006, who appeared at the festival with a giant inflatable beaver, which he made. Another hit of the festival were the Beaverettes, a group of ladies who danced to songwriter Mark Comstock's song about the Martinez beavers.

Perryman, who founded Worth A Dam, which advocates for the Martinez beavers, said a Bay Area private school has contacted her regarding a field trip to Martinez to see the beavers and their dams.