Photo by Carol Gray / Getty Images
Water security – that is, our access to reliable freshwater for ecosystems, communities, agriculture and industry – isn’t often a headline, but with increased trade tensions and aggressive rhetoric between USA and Canada, Canadians may be thinking more about the importance of water. And we’re hoping that beavers will be part of that conversation.
Freshwater is a highly valuable resource that is and will continue to be affected directly by climate change. Fortunately, simply stepping out of the way of beavers can improve water quality, storage, and mitigate effects of climate change.
Beavers: Super Eco-Heroes
Beavers, Castor canadensis, are water-loving mammals who are naturally inclined and adept at building dams and maintaining ponds. They live in multi-generational families in lodges in and around their ponds, and are continuously repairing their dams.
While beavers were nearly driven into extinction by the early colonial fur trade (and are still frequently trapped), their abilities are now being explored as solutions to increasing freshwater availability. In one recent case, beavers did a better job than a government team – faster, and for free – in developing a dam.
Beaver presence and damming activities also reduce the impact of wildfires.
Beavers are even teaching scientists and others how to build wetlands, like this Wisconsin farmer and this one in Wyoming.
The reasons to protect and learn from beavers continue to grow – and we’re thankful to the folks around the world teaching others how to mitigate concerns from beavers like the Beaver Institute, to whom The Fur-Bearers offer Canadian scholarships (click here to learn more).
What are your favourite ecohero facts about beavers? Let us know on our Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, or YouTube channels!
