Beavers: Radical Rodents and Ecosystem Engineers

by Frances Backhouse

Overview

By cutting trees and building dams, beavers shape landscapes and provide valuable wetland homes for many plants and animals.

These radical rodents were once almost hunted to extinction for their prized fur, but today we are building a new relationship with them, and our appreciation of the benefits they offer as habitat creators and water stewards is growing. Packed with facts and personal stories, this book looks at the beaver’s biology and behavior and illuminates its vital role as a keystone species. The beaver’s comeback is one of North America’s greatest conservation success stories and Beavers: Radical Rodents and Ecosystem Engineers introduces readers to the conservationists, scientists and young people who are working to build a better future for our furry friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459824713
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Series:	Orca Wild , #6
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
Lexile:	1110L (what's this?)
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Frances Backhouse studied biology in university and worked as a park naturalist and as a biologist before becoming an environmental journalist and author. Frances loves exploring the natural world both close to home and far away, especially when those explorations involve tent camping. If there’s a beaver habitat nearby, it’s even better.

Frances Backhouse studied biology in university and worked as a park naturalist and as a biologist before becoming an environmental journalist and author. Her six previous books include Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver and Children of the Klondike, which won the 2010 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her partner, Mark Zuehlke, who is also a writer. Frances loves exploring the natural world both close to home and far away, especially when those explorations involve tent-camping. If there’s a beaver habitat nearby, it’s even better.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 The Mighty Beaver

Meet the Mighty Beaver 5

Beaver Geography 6

Four-Legged Lumberjacks 7

Dam Good Engineers 10

Home Sweet Home 13

A Well-Designed Rodent 14

Teeth and Tails 18

Castorid Communications 19

Territorial Marking and a Cure for Headaches 21

Kits Have It Easy 22

Growing Up and Moving On 23

Tree Bark, Poop and Other Tasty Snacks 27

Winter Dining 30

2 Habitat Makers and Community Creators

Tiiim-berl! 35

Master Builders at Work 39

No Leaks Allowed 44

Lodge Logistics 45

Dig This 50

Beavers on Bulldozers 51

Keystone Connections 52

3 From Slaughter to Salvation

Beaverland 59

Brown Gold 61

Fur-Trade Wipeout 62

Disrupted Traditions 64

Bouncing Back 66

A Change of Heart 68

Happy Landings 74

From Rare to Raring to Go 77

Justin Beaver Moves to the City 78

4 Living with Beavers

The Trouble with Beavers 83

Too Close for Comfort 84

Reservoirs, Speed Bumps and Water Filters 86

Coexistence Means Everyone Wins 88

Trick or Treat 92

Tree-Sharing Tactics 99

Kick-Starter Dams 101

Watching Beavers in the Wild 105

Signs and Tracks 106

A Day to Celebrate Beavers 107

How Can You Give Beavers a Boost? 111

Glossary 114

Resources 116

Acknowledgments 118

Index 120

Editorial Reviews

A valuable tool to encourage middle grade readers to know beavers better and to see the desirability for our coexistence with them. Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

05/01/2021

Gr 4–7—This approachable, colorful text explores beavers and their role in shaping nature. The work is divided into four sections: "The Mighty Beaver," "Habitat Makers and Community Creators," "From Slaughter to Salvation," and "Living with Beavers." Beavers were nearly extinct in North America after destruction of their habitats and over-trapping due to desire for their pelts. People began to realize the impact on the environment caused by the loss of beavers and various attempts were made to reintroduce and support the regrowth of the animal's population. The book concludes with opportunities for youth to learn in the field and take action. Backhouse writes in the first person at times, leading to a conversational tone. Nearly every page has a photograph. The layout of the book is well designed, easy to navigate, and includes rich graphics to illustrate the content. There are pop-outs within the chapters with examples of people studying and working with beavers that are outside the main narrative but add depth to the information. A glossary and additional resources are included. VERDICT An engaging book that will leave readers spouting facts about beavers. Students will have a new appreciation for these innovative builders and their significant impact on the landscape and ecosystems of North America.—Erin Wyatt, Highland M.S., Libertyville, IL

School Library Journal