The author of a recent book on the role of beavers in America paid a visit to northern Minnesota last month, and came away awed by the animals living in Voyageurs National Park. Spokane-based Ben Goldfarb was most familiar with the animals’ work in the West.
In his 2018 book, Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, Goldfarb wrote how human attitudes about beavers are changing, after nearly wiping out the animals during the fur trade era, followed by management focused on keeping them out of many areas.
“Today, a growing coalition of ‘Beaver Believers’—including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier, for humans and non-humans alike, than those without them,” the book says. “From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish highlands, Believers are now hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts.”
Visiting Voyageurs, Goldfarb toured with the park’s chief biologist, Dr. Steve Windels, who has conducted extensive beaver research himself. The beavers of the boreal ecosystem clearly made an impression. Goldfarb said the park offers a unique glimpse into the pre-European past, when beavers dominated much of North America.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Goldfarb shared photos and insights into the animals.
In a subsequent thread, Windels shared how easy it is to appreciate beavers at Voyageurs.