Beavers Wetlands & Wildlife Podcast

In Episode Four of the Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife Podcast, host Matt Perry continues the engaging roundtable discussion on beaver behavior with naturalist Patti Smith and longtime beaver observer Walter O’Donoghue. Building on the insights shared in previous episodes, the trio delves deeper into beaver social dynamics, problem-solving abilities, and the subtle nuances of their day-to-day lives in the wild. Their free-flowing conversation draws from firsthand field experiences and decades of close observation.

Welcome back to the Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife Podcast. I’m Matt Perry, President of BWW, and I’m glad you’re joining us for Episode Two. Today we’re continuing our three-way conversation on beaver behavior—an open-ended discussion between fellow naturalists who’ve spent years observing these remarkable animals in the wild. If you tuned in to our first episode, you’ve already met my two guests, Patti Smith and Walter O’Donoghue, and you know that their perspectives bring a lot to the table.Patti is a naturalist at the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center in West Brattleboro, Vermont, and the author of The Beavers of Popple’s Pond: Sketches from the Life of an Honorary Rodent. She’s also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with hands-on experience caring for both wild and captive beavers—giving her a rare window into their social lives and emotional intelligence. Walter O’Donoghue is a dedicated nature observer who has spent the past decade closely monitoring a beaver colony near his home.In today’s episode, we’ll be digging into what makes beaver societies so endlessly fascinating—and what they still have to teach us.

For several decades, Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife has focused on resolving human–beaver conflicts and promoting the many benefits beavers bring to ecosystems. We hope this podcast will further that mission and deepen public appreciation for the species.For this first episode, I’m sharing a conversation I had earlier this year with two fellow naturalists and seasoned beaver observers: Patti Smith and Walter O’Donohue.Patti is a naturalist at the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center in West Brattleboro, Vermont. She’s also the author of The Beavers of Popple’s Pond: Sketches from the Life of an Honorary Rodent. In addition to her writing and public presentations, Patti is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with extensive experience caring for both wild and captive beavers.Walter O’Donohue is a dedicated nature observer who has spent the past decade closely monitoring a beaver colony near his home. I first became aware of Walter when he posted a fascinating video of a beaver feeding on amphibian egg sacs—something not documented in the scientific literature. His footage challenged conventional wisdom and reminded me that beavers often defy expectations. That discovery sparked ongoing conversations between us about the many overlooked aspects of beaver behavior.Soon after, Walter introduced me to Patti, and the three of us began holding informal Zoom meetings every other month. These are free-form conversations rooted in our direct observations of beaver colonies—mine in Central New York, and theirs in Vermont. Collectively, we have more than 50 years of field experience watching beavers and learning from them.What you’re about to hear is the first recorded session from those meetings. The conversation is unscripted and wide-ranging, a relaxed exchange of stories, field notes, and insights. It may wander at times, but for anyone fascinated by wildlife behavior, there are some real gems of empirical knowledge shared throughout.