The argument for more wolves and beavers on federal lands is picking up steam. I think we’re going to be hearing more of it, just like we had a chorus of hearing more and more about beavers and climate change. Works for me. There are lots of reasons beavers can help federal lands and I’m sure wolves can help them do it by keeping all those deer and elk away from the willow.

Wolves and beavers may be the key to restoring ecosystems in the American West

Scientists have a plan to help restore wildlife habitat in the American West by moving grazing livestock off public lands and reintroducing two controversial species: wolves and beavers.

In a recent study published in the journal Bioscience, ecologists and biologists focus on what they call the Western Rewilding Network — 500,000 acres of federal public lands spread across 11 Western states. The plan is a response to the Biden administration’s call to conserve 30% of American lands and waters by 2030.

Ecologist George Wuerthner, executive director of Public Lands Media, co-authored the study and says the plan aims to address a significant loss of biodiversity in the U.S. by protecting the species’ habitats. The plan also provides a cost-effective way to store carbon in soil that can address extreme weather events like wildfires in the West, hurricanes back East and melting ice in the Arctic.

Listen to the short report. This sounds like a real thing that might really happen. At least in some states. The spokesman George seems less than accustomed to banging the beaver drum. He doesn’t even mention fire. Or say anything about the fact that many ranchers rely on beavers to make forage for their herds. But he’s got the carbon part down and the biodiversity and water benefits. And that will do to start.

Oh and the photo (which looks a lot like ours) that is actually a beaver and not a nutria for a change. Obviously in close range because it was taken in CHILE. That’s kinda amusing and hints at the welcome these new beavers are likely to get along the way.