Goldfarb chronicles how trapping beavers to near extinction both in the United States and abroad devastated the natural landscapes and had far reaching effects across trophic levels. Formed by beaver colonies, these wetlands supported a diverse array of plants, insects, fish, amphibians, and mammals.
He describes how the landscapes of western states, such as Oregon, California, and Nevada, once boasted a complex network of streams, ponds, and wet meadows. Author Ben Goldfarb has written a compelling account of the beaver as one of the ultimate keystone species. The read turned out to be a revelation!ĭescribed as having impacts on a continental scale and history-changing in scope, beavers are championed by passionate “Beaver Believers” as the salvation to many environmental ills. So, when I came across Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, I thought I would learn a bit more about Castor canadensis. Still, I join my cousin, a teacher who majored in limnology, or the study of fresh water habitats, in highly recommending this book.Ever since my close encounter with beavers while canoeing the Bow River in Banff, Canada, I have had a soft spot for the furry critters. Pounding the table in making an argument doesn't sway me. Like Wolf Nation books of this genre, to quote myself, are "a bit ideologically driven for my tastes." I am very much a lover of the outdoors.
I should know I'm a lawyer and build cases for a living. Someone could make a case, I suppose, that the flounder, or more realistically another mammal, let's say the horse, was or is the most important non-human animal and build a convincing case.
Books such as Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers by Ben Goldfarb and Wolf Nation: The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves by Brenda Peterson have a tendency to over-make their case for the author's chosen animal. There's a reason I'm only giving it a three or four, despite my delight and enjoyment. To my surprise one of my cousin's wives also read it and loved it.
I didn't feel guilty though I made other purchases of books not readily available. I was going to purchase this but decided to take it from the library instead. I just finished Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers by Ben Goldfarb is about wildlife.
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