Return of the Beaver

An article in Monday's New York Times titled "Return of the Once-Rare Beaver? Not in My Yard." highlights another instance of humans butting heads with Nature.

Hunting and habitat loss lead to huge declines in the beaver population during the 18th and 19th centuries. However the return of woodlands to the Northeast and the dramatic reduction in beaver hunting have lead to a resurgence in their population. Residents now complain of problems caused by local beavers such as flooded yards and clogged septic systems, many without realizing the positive impacts that they can have on the local environment. Similar stories have arisen around the country about other animals like mountain lions, bears, alligators, and coyotes.

As human populations swell, will the environmental movement continue to be successful if people aren't willing to have the real Mother Nature in their backyard--one that could be slightly inconvenient (yet also beautiful and awe-inspiring) at times?


In an unrelated note, how awesome would it be to track Echidnas for your day job?