Beavers used to be seen as hugely problematic, or at best, profitable. Over the years there has been occasion to kill them for their pelts or to exterminate them from an area to eliminate the side-effects of their handy-work. This nearly caused their extinction.
Lately in the US, beavers have been solving problems. Their dams create wetlands that have helped quench thirsty cattle and grow new prairie brush. This has been critical to farmers as temperatures have soared and water levels have dropped.
When we try to control and exploit our environment, it is hard to predict what effects our actions will have on the ecosystem. But if we choose to observe problems and flex to their idiosyncrasies, there’s an opportunity to create mutual benefits, and our problem might just be a great solution when we need it most.