On today's show...
We shine a spotlight on nature's best architect. Meet the humble beaver and the humans working to better manage South Dakota's beaver population and land.
Ben Goldfarb, author of "Eager," shares how beavers have shaped the environment, history and economy of the United States. He also describes a bizarre attempt to parachute beavers into ecosystems that needed them.
We learn about the research of Emily Fairfax, Ph.D. She compared the colors of landscapes with and without beavers after a wildfire. She found the grass was always greener with a beaver.
We then narrow our scope for a close look at the Black Hills. Lori Brown is a western South Dakota rangeland specialist with The Nature Conservancy, and Patti Lynch is a retired wildlife biologist at the U.S. Forest Service.
They discuss how their land management practices try to mimic the beaver.
Plus, we'll talk to a Pennington County rancher about why he changed his mind about his beaver neighbors.
