Beavers are nature’s original engineers—shaping waterways, restoring wetlands, and strengthening ecosystems wherever they live. Yet as beavers return to many landscapes, their remarkable skills can sometimes clash with human needs. Alison Zak will lead us in an exploration of how we can move beyond conflict and toward practical, science-based solutions that allow both people and beavers to thrive. She will uncover the vital role beavers play in water management, biodiversity, and climate resilience, and share proven strategies for living alongside them safely and successfully. Coexistence isn’t just possible—it’s beneficial for our communities and the natural world we depend on.

Alison Zak, Founder and Executive Director of the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund (HBCF), studied human-wildlife conflict in graduate school, then worked for six years in environmental education before founding HBCF. She is particularly intrigued by beaver coexistence work because few other animals have such an impact on the world around them. Alison jokes that beavers filled the monkey-sized hole in her heart as she transitioned away from research on endangered, crop-feeding macaques. She now enjoys working with human primates and semi-aquatic rodents alike! Alison holds a BA (University of South Florida) and MA (San Diego State University) in Anthropology. She is the author of Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World.

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