Beaver Research Talk

Join the Hull Mammal Group for a talk on beavers lead by Rome Cook.

Join us at the the Univeristy of Hull in the Student's Union Room BR9A at 13:00 for a research talk lead by Rome Cook titled, "Beavers, Bugs, and Better Crops: Can Beaver Wetlands Naturally Suppress Agricultural Pests?".

This talk will be lead by Rome Cook, BSc (University of Hull) who is certified in Agroforestry (University of Florida). This research will also be presented at the Beaver Conference 2026.

An overview of the talk:

• Research exploring whether beaver-created wetlands can reduce pest populations in adjacent agroforestry systems
• Focus on beavers as ecosystem engineers and how their wetlands support biodiversity
• Discussion of birds, bats, amphibians, and predatory insects and their potential role in natural pest control
• Covers ecological “spill-over” from wetlands into nearby crops

Scope and approach:

• Interdisciplinary: ecology, hydrology, entomology, and agroforestry
• Uses UK and European examples
• Informal and discussion-friendly, with time for questions

Balanced perspective:

Covers both benefits and trade-offs, including: Flooding risk, Pest refuges, and Coexistence with beavers in working landscapes

Please join us to learn about Rome's research and have a chance to ask questions and provide feedback for their upcoming conference.