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A Bold Pack Of Ecological Engineers In “Beaverland”

Leila Philip and the cover of “Beaverland.”
Twelve Books
Leila Philip and the cover of “Beaverland.”

Beavers are crafty, consequential animals.

They have shaped the history of this country, they loom large in our legends - and they are engineering our ecosystem at this very moment, including in our own backyard.

Leila Philip writes about them in her recent book, “Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America.”

Next month, Leila will visit Chattanooga.

On Thursday, May 18th, she will speak at The Camp House, starting at 5:30 PM.

The day before, she will be at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, for paddling trips on Lookout Creek to glimpse a beaver dam.

I spoke with Leila - and Mark McKnight, president and CEO of Reflection Riding.

Related Content
  • For Hamilton County, setting the pace for future growth. A bold pack of ecological engineers in “Beaverland.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”
  • How should growth be managed in the unincorporated parts of Hamilton County? Nathan Janeway is the County’s new Director of Development Services - and he’s involved in the process for the first comprehensive growth plan for the future of those unincorporated areas, recently announced by County Mayor Weston Wamp and County Commissioners.