The Secret Lives of Beavers, and Why They Matter

The consequences of losing beavers to the fur trade were profound, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb says: ponds were drained, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. In this 7 p.m. Zoom program cosponsored by TCWP and the UT Arboretum Society on September 28, Goldfarb, the author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, will explain why ecosystems with beavers are far healthier than those without them; how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, and climate change; and how we can coexist with this challenging but vital rodent.

Goldfarb’s work has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, Science, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. His next book, Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, will be published by W.W. Norton & Company in September 2023. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Elise, and his dog, Kit — which, he says, “is, of course, what you call a baby beaver.”

The program will be free, but participants will need register to receive a Zoom link, to be provided at www.utarboretumsociety.org. Contact Michelle Campanis at mcampani@utk.edu regarding any questions or registration issues.