Known as “nature’s engineers,” beavers can alter their surroundings more than any other animal except humans. Once valued for their pelts, still widely viewed as pests who eat trees and cause flooding, beavers are gaining new appreciation as necessary ecosystem managers who can play a role in promoting healthy watersheds and even combating climate change. Local naturalist Kerry Wixted will tell us about the natural history of these captivating, common animals and how we can learn to coexist with beavers in our communities.