Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: A creature whose footprints produce and protect life
Few mammals have a bigger positive impact on the planet than the beaver. With its bright orange buck teeth, the creature is an expert engineer that brings life wherever it waddles and even fights fires. Our story begins in the Bronx River, once known as the “open sewer” of New York City. After some humans decide to clean it up, we meet one of the river’s residents: José the beaver. We learn about the US government parachuting beavers out of planes into the mountains, and finally head to California where we discover how one beaver family saved acres of land from burning.
Special thanks to author Ben Goldfarb, Christian Murphy from the Bronx River Alliance and Dr. Emily Fairfax.
Subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already, follow us on instagram @terrestrialspodcast, and leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review on your podcast app - it helps curious listeners find us!
Terrestrials was created by Lulu Miller with WNYC Studios. This episode was produced by Ana González and sound-designed by Mira Burt-Wintonick.
Our team includes Alan Goffinski, Joe Plourde and Tanya Chawla. Fact checking was by Diane Kelly.
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Photo illustration by Tara Anand
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
From the Radiolab podcast: A creature whose footprints produce and protect life
Few mammals have a bigger positive impact on the planet than the beaver. With its bright orange buck teeth, the creature is an expert engineer that brings life wherever it waddles and even fights fires. Our story begins in the Bronx River, once known as the “open sewer” of New York City. After some humans decide to clean it up, we meet one of the river’s residents: José the beaver. We learn about the US government parachuting beavers out of planes into the mountains, and finally head to California where we discover how one beaver family saved acres of land from burning.
Special thanks to author Ben Goldfarb, Christian Murphy from the Bronx River Alliance and Dr. Emily Fairfax.
Subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already, follow us on instagram @terrestrialspodcast, and leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review on your podcast app - it helps curious listeners find us!
Terrestrials was created by Lulu Miller with WNYC Studios. This episode was produced by Ana González and sound-designed by Mira Burt-Wintonick.
Our team includes Alan Goffinski, Joe Plourde and Tanya Chawla. Fact checking was by Diane Kelly.
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab: Terrestrials wherever you listen to podcasts: lnk.to/radiolabforkids!youtube
🔎 Subscribe to Terrestrials on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to the Terrestrials Newsletter: terrestrialspodcast.org
🌱 Check out all Terrestrials episodes: bit.ly/42XAtyg
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Our newsletter includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: lnk.to/radiolab!youtube
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X — https://x.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Threads — threads.net/@radiolab
TikTok — tiktok.com/@radiolab
Our newsletter includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration by Tara Anand
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
