I got excited even reading the headline of this letter to the editor from Wisconsin. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way,
Celebrate nature’s ecosystem engineers
Dear Editor: International Beaver Day, celebrated April 7, highlights the ecological and human benefits of beavers and advocates for their scientific management to maintain healthy watersheds.
These industrious animals are expert water managers, a critical skill as Wisconsin faces increasing drought. Since 2020, Wisconsin has become drier, ranging from “abnormally dry” to “drought” ratings, threatening public health and safety. Intense but less frequent rain events further exacerbate drought and flooding issues for Wisconsinites.
Great start to a beaver believer letter. Are you hooked yet?
Beavers create complex wetland ecosystems that provide key benefits:
• Increased groundwater recharge. By slowing surface water flow, beavers help replenish groundwater. In Wisconsin, 70% of residents and 97% of communities rely on groundwater for drinking water, and 92% of farms use groundwater for irrigation.
• Flood prevention. Beaver wetlands slow stormwater surges from major rain events. Beaver structures attenuate downstream flooding by as much as 60%, protecting roads, homes, and farms from flood damage.
• Reduced wildfire risk. Beavers’ wetland complexes maintain high moisture levels in soils and vegetation, creating a natural barrier against the spread of wildfires. The deadliest wildfires in U.S. history occurred in the northland —Peshtigo, Hinkley and Cloquet. Wisconsin’s drying forests remain vulnerable to wildfires.
Beavers will be a hot topic this year in our state. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is updating the management plan for beavers. Hopefully best available science on beavers as a keystone species, as well as the climate resilience that beavers provide to Wisconsinites, will be accounted for in the new plan.
Amy Mueller
Dousman
Outstanding Amy! Just remember that Wisconsin is one of two states that regularly blows up beaver dams to make sure trout have an easy stroll upstream. They even believe there are more beavers than the was before the settlers got there.
We need lots more letters like this.
