There has been such loud response to Monday’s Minnesota research that I have been waiting for an interview or two to pop up. WTIP community radio was first with this excellent audio recorded with the study author and host  Joe Friedrichs. It really is compelling stuff. Especially when he says that beavers keep water on the landscape AND when we kill them it reduces water on the landscape, but then says “I’m not going to say anything about whether or not we should keep killing them”. HAHAHA

Study analyzes beavers as ‘ecosystem engineers’ near North Shore rivers

A new study shows the critical role beavers play in regulating water storage along the North Shore.

The project reviewed data and photographs from the Kadunce and Cascade rivers in Cook County, as well as the Manitou, Split Rock and Knife rivers down the shore.

The study is considered one of the most extensive reviews analyzing the extent to which beavers are essential for freshwater conservation and ecosystem stability by creating and preserving aquatic and wetland environments in Minnesota.

 

Silly silly man. I know you think you can avoid beaver politics by sidestepping the question entirely but don’t you realize by saying beavers change things for the better you’ve already fired a cannon across the bow of every trapper and public works director and man who doesn’t want his basement flooded?

The interview even discusses one river where beavers are killed to help STEELHEAD AND TROUT for fishermen. Because that’s how frickin much this state hates beavers and values research.  The author delicately avoids this action and manages not to say “GEE if there’s more water don’t you think there might be more FISH you idiot?”

He is not me. But he might get an email from me, I feel we might have an interesting conversation.