Local resident Cholla Nicoll, who worked with beavers in Colorado, has arranged for the showing of a new documentary film “The Beaver Believers,” at the Tin Shed Theater on April 20 at 6p.m. as part of Patagonia’s Earthfest festivities.
Shot in eight western states, “The Beaver Believers” is a feature documentary that tells the urgent yet whimsical story of an unlikely cadre of activists – a biologist, a hydrologist, a botanist, an ecologist, a psychologist, and a hairdresser – who share a common vision: restoring the North American Beaver, the most industrious, ingenious, bucktoothed little engineer, to the watersheds of the American West.” For more information on the film visit thebeaverbelievers.com.
As a keystone species beavers dramatically increase the ability of their habitat to support other lifeforms including plants, animals and fish. This is the reason more federally managed land managers are bringing beavers back to do the job of storing and cleaning water.
Arizona has its own beaver reintroduction success story on the San Pedro River. Between 1999 and 2003, 16 beavers were reintroduced there. The population has increased to approximately 100 beavers today.