In Beaver World

A scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book is a comprehensive study of beaver behavior, ecology, and their environmental impact, drawn from the author's twenty-seven years of observations across North America. Mills elucidates the beaver's unique engineering skills and highlights their important role in conservation and ecosystem health. At the start of the book, the author recounts his extensive fieldwork studying beaver colonies over many years. He shares personal anecdotes, including detailed observations of beaver building their homes, foraging for food, and working cooperatively. The beginning sets a tone of reverence for these industrious creatures while offering insight into their physical characteristics, social organization, and remarkable capability for landscape alteration through dam-building. Mills emphasizes their significance not just in the wildlife community but also in the broader context of nature's dynamic systems, laying the groundwork for a deeper understanding of beavers as both individual animals and as key players in their ecosystems.