Beaver dams can be viewed as an act of agression, as they are a personal apropriation of the land that can have adverse effects on many other species, despite benifiting the beaver and others.
How about a northern wax wing? --- In [email protected], marc guttman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > A few months ago, while driving cross-country with my father, we discussed politics a bit. He asked me what animal would be a good mascot for the LP. We came up with a few criteria and then he suggested an animal that would fit well. Some of our criteria: > > - a non-predator/aggressor > - an animal that provides for itself (ie. does not live off of humans like pets and farm animals) > - an animal that can defend itself > - an animal that leaves its environment better than it was found > > My father suggested that the industrious beaver would fit our criteria and would make a good mascot. > > from http://www.beavers-beavers.com/: "The Beaver is one of the most reputable animals and is definitely a much-admired rodent in both the United States and Canada. It is the National symbol of Canada and two US states, namely Oregon and New York have adopted it as the state symbol...The animal slaps the water in the case of danger. It is believed that this sort of slapping may be a warning signal meant to other Beavers who usually establish their homes up or down the same stream...Beavers feed mainly on what they can find in their habitat. This includes vegetarian food such as aspen, willow, cottonwood, leaves, apples, crops, and similar fare. Fish can also comprise Beaver's ration, yet the animal does not hunt. It eats dead fish found near-by. Careful and prudent, Beavers hide food in their underwater tunnels to make use of it in winter periods...Beavers are considered a "cornerstone species" since they change the habitat they live in like no other animal. Thanks to the > Beaver, other species such as turtles, frogs, birds, and fish can find a good home and enjoy naturally created habitat. Naturally created wetlands help to cleanse the water and serve as filters that are instrumental in getting rid of pollutants and silt. These areas are a valuable means of irrigation and water control...[However,] Dams result in flooding which can be negative for forests, roads, and agriculture. Beavers may damage fish and farm ponds and destroy agricultural crops when feeding. A number of other dreadful effects caused by this species' activities have aroused the need for managing Beavers and preventing them from undesirable habitat changes." > > > The defensive porcupine would also be a good mascot: > > from http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/porcupine.htm: "The porcupine uses its quills for defense. The porcupine cannot shoot its quills. When a predator approaches, the porcupine will turn its back, raise the quills and lash out at the threat with its tail. If the porcupine hits an animal with its quills, the quills become embedded in the animal. Body heat makes the barbs expand and they become even more deeply embedded in the animal's skin. If an animal is hit in a vital place it may die. The porcupine is not an aggressive animal. It will only attack if it is threatened. Some animals, like the fisher, are experts at attacking porcupines...The common porcupine is an herbivore. It eats leaves, twigs and green plants like skunk cabbage and clover. In the winter, it may eat bark. It often climbs trees to find food. It is mostly nocturnal, but will sometimes forage for food in the day...The common porcupine is a solitary animal, although it may den with other porcupines in the > winter. It makes its den in caves, decaying logs and hollow trees. The common porcupine doesn't hibernate, but it may stay in its den during bad weather. The common porcupine is a good swimmer, its hollow quills help keep it afloat. It is also an excellent tree- climber and spends much of its time in trees. It is a very vocal animal and has a wide-variety of calls including moans, grunts, coughs, wails, whines, shrieks and tooth clicking." > > I've heard the penguin and the skunk recommended in the past. > > > What color would a libertarian state be? White (the inclusion of all colors). > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
