Playing Chess with Beavers: Lessons in Management from Across the Pond - with Mike Callahan

Greetings fair listeners! And welcome back to a brand new, shiny series of Beaver Trust's The Lodge Cast!

In our fifth series, join us on an international journey of discovery, where, with the help of leading experts we navigate the complexities of beaver mitigation and management - among the most topical discussions surrounding beaver restoration in Britain today. 

To kick-off Series 5 with a bang, we are joined by Mike Callahan. Based on the east coast of the United States, Mike’s career and experience is as varied as a thriving beaver wetland. A background in human medicine equipped him with the insight and bedside manner to tackle healing of a greener kind. Fast-forward several years and he is the founder of an organisation called ‘Beaver Solutions’, which specialises in effective beaver management and resolving human-beaver conflicts. He also founded the non-profit The Beaver Institute - of which he is now President.

Beavers are a native, keystone species. So what are we mitigating for? Mike’s organisations have created flow devices, learning resources, and delivered training to help professionals or communities interested in dealing with beavers when they present problems, across North America and Europe. Safe to say, speaking with Mike was a joy, and from it we have many pertinent lessons to consider when it comes to human/beaver coexistence.

Also coming up: the return of the iconic #FactOff challenge and Sophie puts Eva's crime scene knowledge to the test in the QUIZ...

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. 

Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.