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Conservation-minded landowner works with beavers for ecological good

SDPB | By Lori Walsh,
Ellen Koester
Published March 28, 2024 at 4:23 PM CDT
An example of a stream in western South Dakota with stark color contrast between the land by the creek and the land further away. Streams provide habitat for about 80% of prairie species even though they represent about 1% of the land area in this part of the state.
Joe Dickie, Generation Photography, Inc.
/
Chris Anderson, The Nature Conservancy
An example of a stream in western South Dakota with stark color contrast between the land by the creek and the land further away. Streams provide habitat for about 80% of prairie species even though they represent about 1% of the land area in this part of the state.

This interview originally aired on "In the Moment" on SDPB Radio.

Advocates, landowners and urban planners in South Dakota can disagree over the role of beavers.

Pat Guptill is a rancher in Pennington County who says the creek on his land got healthier after he started working with instead of against his beaver neighbor.

He shares his perspective on "In the Moment."

Learn more about Guptill's management practices.
Tags
Environment Top StoriesIn The Moment SegmentsRapid City & Pennington County, South Dakota
Lori Walsh
Lori Walsh is a special correspondent with SDPB and host of the "In the Moment" podcast.
See stories by Lori Walsh
Ellen Koester
Ellen Koester served as a producer of "In the Moment," SDPB's daily news and culture broadcast.
See stories by Ellen Koester

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