Beaver dams are known to dampen flood waves, enhance groundwater recharge, and keep vegetation green during droughts. Our results indicate that beavers also help create fire-resistant patches in the landscape. Using remote sensing, we found that beaver-dammed riparian corridors had only a 19% reduc- tion in NDVI during wildfires, compared to 58% reduction in NDVI in places without beavers. In short, places with beavers stayed greener. These ribbons of fire-resistant riparian corridor may provide temporary refuge for species that are unable to physically escape wildfire, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, wild and domestic ungulates, and birds.
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