Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Heal the Planet

“Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Heal the Planet”with Ben Goldfarb, environmental journalist and author

Thursday, January 16th
6pm Reception 7 pm Talk
Panel discussion and questions following the talk
Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture, Bozeman
FREE

Livestream and In-person
Register in advance to receive the link for the live stream (and/or to receive the recording) at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qS1yd0A-SpiB7P6bXmQ7Iw

6 pm Reception (Ballroom)
Free food & drink
Book signing with Ben Goldfarb for “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter”
Info tables from sponsors

7 pm Talk (Crawford Theater) with panel discussion to follow

Talk description
In his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern conception of a healthy ecosystem is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once eliminated millions of beavers from North America’s waterways. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: ponds drained, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, farmers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier than those without them. From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish highlands, Believers are hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts. In his talk, Ben will discuss the history and biology of this world-changing species; how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, and climate change; and how we can coexist with this challenging but vital rodent.

About Ben Goldfarb
Ben Goldfarb is an environmental journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, the Atlantic, Smithsonian Magazine, and many other publications. He is the author of Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, named one of the best books of 2023 by the New York Times and recipient of the Sierra Club’s Rachel Carson Award, and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Elise, and his dog, Kit — which is, of course, what you call a baby beaver.
In partnership with Madison Gallatin Trout Unlimited with additional support from Gallatin Yellowstone Coalition and Gallatin Watershed Council.