Beavers are dam important for the ecosystem

New research shows beavers help restore important freshwater habitats. (Shutterstock / Ronnie Howard) Science Columnist Torah Kachur is the syndicated science columnist for CBC Radio One. Torah received her PhD in molecular genetics from the University of Alberta and now teaches at the University of Alberta and MacEwan University. She’s the co-creator of scienceinseconds.com.

The beaver is a Canadian icon. To some it’s also a royal pest. Beavers are more than just a nuisance, though. They are also important engineers of our environment. A new study published in the journal PLOS One has discovered just how important beavers are in protecting habitat.

Why are beavers considered pests by some? I know some people are annoyed with beavers because they chop down trees, flood areas with dams and can generally not be on the same page as a landowner about how to engineer the land. But they are gaining more and more acceptance as important natural engineers of their environment. Beavers, of course, are compelled to build dams, and research has revealed that beavers build dams near the sound of rushing water. Of course, they build dams to provide habitat and protection for their young. And, as a consequence, they […]

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