Beavers

Who are you going to call when beavers are behaving badly? Well, if you live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Drew Reed is the go-to 'beaver buster'. Drew works as a wetland conservationist, helping to keep the peace between beavers and people. These busy rodents are incredibly industrious - felling trees and building dams are two of their favourite occupations. This can be good news in the wild, helping create rich habitats for a variety of wildlife, but in back yards it can spell disaster. A beaver is more than capable of bringing down a tree large enough to damage property, and their dam building can result in flooded homes. Drew must do what he can to steer beavers away from trouble and stop their so-called bad behaviour.

From PBS - The fascinating story of beavers in North America - their history, their near extinction, and their current comeback, as a growing number of scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists have come to regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and world-wide water shortages.

Discovered by music promoter Paul Kyser at a talent show in Baltimore in the early 1970’s, five young men from Baltimore inspired by the Jackson 5 and calling themselves Jimmy Briscoe & the Little Beavers made quite an impression with the public; which led to a number of singles released on Atlantic Records beginning in 1971, and then for the Buddah Records subsidiary Pi Kappa. A full length album followed entitled “My Ebony Princess” which was reviewed as a "top album pick" by Billboard magazine in 1974.

Bridging the fields of ecosystem science and landscape ecology, this book integrates Dr. Carol Johnston's research on beaver ecosystem alteration at Voyageurs National Park. The findings about the vegetation, soils, and chemistry of beaver impoundments synthesized in the text provide a cohesive reference useful to wetland scientists, ecosystems and landscape ecologysts, wildlife managers, and students.

Imagine being able to swim without goggles because you have clear eyelids. For American Beavers, with water-resistant hair, fins for feet, and rudder tails, they have all the equipment needed to be pros in the water. Paddle along with these graceful swimmers in this interesting read for young students.