In this episode, we learn that sometimes nature already has the answers. Problem-solvers can also come in the form of furry little construction workers: beavers.
Miles talks about the role beavers fill in the American West and what happens when the so-called “beaver haters” eradicate them.
We hear a preview discussion of the strain on the Colorado River in regards to beavers fighting drought. We’ll dive even deeper into the topic of the Colorado River later in this series.
Throughout this discussion, Miles tells us even more about the assembly of unique characters in the television episode who are coming up with ways to collaborate with beavers and solve a multitude of problems including wildfires, drought, overgrazing and the deterioration of vital waterways.
The beaver expert Emily Fairfax turned to this field because she was inspired by a PBS “Nature” program, and that, as Miles says, “is the power of PBS.”
One team working on this solution is adding man-made beaver dams or “analog dams” to the landscape where needed, and sometimes the beavers will move right in and start a renovation. The analog dams are good, but the beavers can always do it better.
Miles tells a story that didn’t make it into the show about a family who had beaver guests create an oasis in their backyard and the beautiful things that can happen when these creatures are welcomed rather than treated as pests.
He also looks at innovations in technology that allow scientists to monitor and gather more data than ever before, while recognizing that there is often an environmental cost that comes with them.
