Yes, that's right. I know that Mountain Beavers are not birds but I have also noticed that a
substantial number of Tweeters subscribers are interested in them. Well, Thurston County is
interested in them too. They're interested in just about all of the mammals that poop in the
watersheds that drain to South Puget Sound shellfish waters. The e coli in the shellfish
beds is being matched using genetic markers to a reference collection of genetic markers
for feces from known species. Yes, that's right. They're short on the Mountain Beaver part of
the reference collection. If anyone within range of my mighty green Chevy pickup can
absolutely, positively direct me to some bona fide Mountain Beaver scat, please email me. I'll
come runnin'.... Well, I'll get there eventually... I think.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov