Bringing Up Beaver By John Aberth

Discussion questions for the group

• What ethical dilemmas does Aberth face when balancing his attachment to BK with the goal of returning him to the wild? How does he navigate the tension between care and wildness?
• Aberth addresses the complex issue of beaver trapping and wildlife management policies in Vermont Substack. What are your thoughts on his advocacy for nonlethal coexistence with beavers?
• The book describes the "bittersweet" moment of BK's release. How do you think wildlife rehabilitators cope with the emotional difficulty of letting go of animals they've bonded with?
• What did you learn about beaver behavior and biology that surprised you? How did this change your perception of beavers?
• The book includes observations about BK's interactions with other wildlife, including the beaver who became his mate, as well as hawks, owls, mink, and weasels Simon & Schuster. What did these encounters reveal about beaver social dynamics and their role in the ecosystem?
• The book includes a "manifesto" for coexisting with wild animals Substack. What practical lessons can readers take from Aberth's experience about living alongside wildlife in their own communities?
• How does Aberth's observation that beavers are "affectionate, playful, creative, clever, and charming" challenge common stereotypes about these animals?
• How does Aberth's relationship with BK evolve throughout the two years? At what points do you see him struggling with anthropomorphism versus respecting BK's wild nature?
• If you had the opportunity to rehabilitate a wild animal, would you? What appeals to you or concerns you about this responsibility?
• What do you think Aberth means when he says wildlife rehabilitation helps us "relearn wildness in ourselves"? What does that mean to you?

Come discuss our book of the month. This is a casual bookclub-ish meeting that is just getting started. The intention is to meet with fellow book lovers to make new connections, grow through reading and community.

This book is featured in Bookshop SC's Fall Book Reading Challenge. Finish the book before attending, be prepared to discuss. Due to it being at a beer garden likely we will be doing small cluster of groups instead of one large one.

About the book :
(208 pages)
On May 10, 2020, an orphaned beaver kit was found in St. Albans, Vermont and handed over to John Aberth, a licensed volunteer wildlife rehabilitator. Over the next two years, John raised the kit, whom he nicknamed "BK," and prepared him for release back into the wild. During that time, John and BK developed a special and unique bond, which John documented in a daily diary. That diary became the basis for Bringing Up Beaver, a lively and engaging account of one human’s relationship with a wild animal.

Bringing Up Beaver is more than just a feel-good story about human encounters with nature. Full of fascinating observations about beaver behavior and biology, Bringing Up Beaver also documents the unique challenges and obstacles to be faced and overcome in rehabbing a wild beaver kit. Populating the story are plenty of other wild creatures that John encounters in the course of his journey with BK, including other beavers—one of whom became BK’s mate—as well as hawks, owls, mink, and weasels.

For anyone who has been charmed by a beaver's "smile" or enjoyed books like Fox and I and Eager, Bringing Up Beaver is a must read that will give us a new perspective on the wildlife and natural world all around us.