Once driven to the brink of extinction by the fur trade, beavers are finally making a comeback.

And while that’s a good thing for people, animals and the environment, beavers aren’t universally appreciated. They still face persecution as development encroaches into the streams and ponds they call home. We can coexist with these industrious creatures (even when dams are involved).

Happy beaver in a body of water
Jillian Cooper
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iStock.com
Dam straight! Beavers deserve thanks—not punishment—for their architectural achievements.

Beavers play an important role in establishing and maintaining wetlands, which provide crucial habitat for sensitive plant and animal species. Their dams improve water quality and can even control floods by slowing water movement. And when beaver activity presents a problem for nearby humans, there are effective solutions that allow people to coexist in harmony with nature’s engineers.

beaver dam in the middle of a lake
JLFCapture
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iStock.com
Did you know?

Beavers mate for life, and yearlings help care for kits.

Two deer in a field

Every day, more and more wildlife habitats are lost to the spread of development. Your gift can help create more humane backyards to protect all animals. 

John Harrison