Beavers in Colorado: The Once & Future Ecosystem Engineers?

The construction of dams and canals by beavers alters the movement of water and sediment in rivers, creates abundant and diverse habitat for other plants and animals, and increases the resilience of rivers to fire, flood, and drought. Beavers were trapped nearly to extinction in Colorado by the 1840s and their comeback has been slowed by loss of habitat and continued trapping. We will explore how beavers can benefit rivers and human societies, as well as some of the efforts to reintroduce beavers and to mimic their environmental effects with human-built structures.

Please join us for this talk presented by Dr. Ellen Wohl, University Distinguished Professor at the CSU Warner College of Natural Resources. Dr. Wohl has lived in Fort Collins for over 20 years. She has received numerous awards, has contributed to many scholarly journals, and has also received praise for writing for general readers.

"Beavers in Colorado" will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at the Council Tree Library Large Meeting room from 6:30PM to 7:45PM.