Now now now.
Beaver benefits are often ignored or underplayed. They are the very definition of the phase “hiding their light under a bushel”. It isn’t very often that they’re OVERplayed – at least not outside of this website.
But if such a thing is even possible this fine new video narrated by re-wildling’s own George Moonbiot must come close. I love parts of this very much. Beavers come off as loveable family members who work to make the world a better place. The beginning about beavers liking big streams more I think is anthropomorphic bunk and there are plenty of head scratching moments but it SURE resonates.
Enjoy. And share!
Pretty sweet huh? It’s not every day that you listen to the vibrating tones of Moonbiot preaching why beavers matter. And he even includes the topics of drought and fire! I’m thinking that’s Ben’s book resonating there.
The historical trapping moments are kind of fictional. Of course when this all started they didn’t even HAVE metal traps. And when they were finally invented they couldn’t figure out how to bait them and tried unsuccessful things like leaves and muskrats and fish to lure the beaver close, It was a total accident that they hit on castoreum eventually. That was actually my favorite part of our grisly trapping research.
I’m not sure about American castor sacs being less valuable because of our beavers eat cottonwood. (?) And I’ve never heard a parent coo to a kit to sooth it although I’ve heard lots of kit whining to parents.. For now I’d file it in the “Moonbiot facts bag” and treat it like rarely preserved medical tools from the middle ages. Intriguing but not that reliable today.
But okay sure. If you say so.
I LOVE the impact of trapping part: the dried ponds and fires laid out as clear consequences of all those missing beavers. I love thinking about the world that might have been if we hadn’t stolen their pelts. I doubt this will get the circulation of “How Wolves changed Rivers” but you have to start somewhere. And this is a fine place,
Oh and the moment at 5:25 when the beaver is coming over the dam and sliding into crystal clear water so you can watch him swim away underwater is the best video I have ever seen. I mean it. I want that footage.
I would say the UK is clearly outdoing itself with selling the beaver story at the moment. Here’s their newest conference advertisement.
