Beavers

Beavers: 

there was a time, over two decades ago now, when beavers made their way to my small neighbor pond and established their home there. They were beautiful to see, a sign of true wildlife it seemed to me, adapting a man made park into their habitat and creating a brand new ecosystem in the process. It wasn't meant to be though, or at least not for very long, as neighbors complained over the possibility of homes being damaged, property values lowered due to an alter landscape, and, I believe, a certain amount of fear as well, with even a small amount of wilderness being found not so far from their doors. 

by this I don't mean a concern for their personal safety, but a more primal fear, the thought that we're not in as complete environmental control as we wish to believe. Beavers don't alter the landscape any more than humans do, and in fact, in the change they bring is most often an environmental boon, a vast improvement to the trim and proper park space that we demand. 

beavers are ecological engineers, knowing inherently what an area most needs.

being wiser then we are in their connection to the land. 

there are several connecting neighborhoods that sustain a small population of beavers. I see them occasionally on my longer walks and runs. Each time I send a silent invitation for them to make their way to my small pond once more, hoping that maybe this time we'll be more welcoming and find a way to adjust ourselves to change. It's a small hope though, as it seems that humans are often slow to learn, believing that we have the final say on how nature should be shown.

of course we're wrong.

forgetting that we're simply a small aspect in this infinite display of ever changing wilderness. And truly, it's all wilderness, every last tract of land connected to an endless ecosystem that ultimately contains oceans, stars and furthest galaxies as well. We're part of this, and not in control at all, we have no final say on the course of nature, But our beliefs that we do cause great and grave danger. We alter landscapes so drastically that the environment struggles for balance. 

we've forgotten our own inherent wisdom.

our deep ecological connection. 

 perhaps beavers can remind us of this, showing us that we can alter a place for our homes and yet still offer room for a wilderness's expression. We need a reminder that we're not ultimately in charge, that right now we know so little of our eventual impact on the world. Unless it's already too late, proving indeed that it's humans that are the invasive species on this planet.  

but maybe we can learn from beavers.

other species too. 

teaching us that we belong to wilderness.

that it's inherently who we are. 

~

Peace, Eric