Busy Beavers
Imagine standing on the edge of a loch in the Scottish Highlands. The air is crisp, and pine trees reflect off the glass-like water. In a moment conservationists are dubbing “wildlife history,” seven beavers were released into the crystal-clear waters of Glen Affric, marking a monumental homecoming for a species that disappeared from the area four centuries ago. Forestry and Land Scotland released a family of five and a breeding pair of beavers at two sites on Loch Beinn in the nature reserve in Invernesshire. It signals that we have the power to repair what was once broken, and that nature, when given the chance, can return to its rightful glory. For generations, ecosystems managed without beavers, but their absence was felt. Rivers flowed too fast, and wetlands dried up too quickly.
You might wonder why there’s so much commotion over what looks like a giant rodent. The answer lies in the beaver’s nickname, ecosystem “engineer.” These creatures possess a remarkable ability to transform their environment, benefiting nearly everything around them. When beavers build dams, they slow the flow of water. This creates complex wetland habitats, ponds and pools that become nurseries for fish, amphibians, and insects. These wetlands act like giant sponges in the landscape. During heavy rains, they hold back water, reducing the risk of catastrophic flooding for downstream communities. During droughts, they store water, keeping rivers flowing and providing a lifeline for wildlife. These dams act like the kidneys of a river system, filtering out agricultural runoff and helping keep the water clean. By bringing beavers back to Glen Affric, scientists have effectively reinstalled a natural life-support system for the entire glen. The return of the beaver is good news for people, too. Across Scotland, the presence of these charismatic creatures is becoming a significant draw for visitors—and a boost to local economies. Wildlife tourism is booming, with “beaver safaris” in places like Perthshire often booked to capacity.
The trails through Frijoles Canyon in New Mexico were carved into ancient volcanic rock alongside Frijoles Creek, which has sustained life in the canyon for over 400 years. Nearly 200,000 visitors come annually to see the scenic landscape with its Ancestral Puebloan dwellings, petroglyphs, and cavates carved into the volcanic tuff canyon walls. However, in the years following the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, Frijoles Creek began drying up. Though scientists at first hoped that the ecosystem would repair itself, the damage proved too significant for any noticeable ecosystem revival. The fire’s aftermath left the creek carved down to solid rock in some sections, creating conditions where rainwater rushed through at higher temperatures and velocities.
Vegetation was slow to grow back, meaning that the small amount of water that Bandelier gets each year was still moving through the landscape too quickly. The team decided to enlist the help of some of the most skilled construction workers of the animal kingdom: Beavers. “These beavers are ecosystem engineers and much better at restoration than we are.” The ecosystem response has also had a sort of domino effect. “We see every species of fauna use these ponds. All are documented on camera—mountain lions, bears, birds (even a kingfisher!), bobcats, coyotes—drinking from the ponds,” Milligan reported. “The bears and birds frequently bathe in them as well. The vegetation has flourished.
Beaver blarney
A rabbit and a beaver are looking up at the majesty of the Hoover Dam.
And the beaver says to the rabbit,
“Well, I didn’t build it but it’s based on my design”
There is a beaver in our local zoo who is quite the celebrity. His name is “Clint.”
Clint EatsWood.
A beaver is eating an ice cream bar:
He has a sour look on his face.
‘I wish I’d get to the stick already,’ he mumbles to himself.
Hey Guys! They brought back Angry Beavers! Isn’t it great?
But the show has been renamed “The View.”
April 8th Birthdays
1968 – Patricia Arquette, 1992 – Shelby Young, 1984 – Kirsten Storms, 1990 – Gabriella Wilde,
1976 – Heinz Ward, 1996 – Kyle Allen, 1976 – Freddie Prinze Jr, 1940 – John Havlichek