Alaska’s ponds were once a place of vibrant fishing communities, hundreds of species of fish, and unrestricted freely flowing water. But word spread of all that the ponds had to offer, and corporations of beavers began developing in the neighborhood.
As the warming climate causes trees and bushes to grow, beavers have pounced on the opportunity to ‘beautify’ the ponds, building water infrastructure and constructing thousands of upscale homes and restaurants.
The ponds look totally different today than they did in the past 10 years. As more and more beavers flock to the newly popular spot, they drive out communities of Arctic Char. Locals complain that their ma and pa shops have closed while gnaw and paw shops have opened - not to mention the price of algae has increased significantly, and Whole Woods has opened on every corner.
Besides the changing landscape, the beavers’ exclusive residences and structures have had other consequences. Their dams lower the streams’ oxygen levels, causing local fish to flee. Their structures also cause permafrost to thaw, releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Though they’ve brought important services with them, their office suites of dental professionals don’t take finsurance.
As long as Alaska’s ponds remain lucrative real estate opportunities, the beavers are there to stay, changing the ecosystem one vegan cafe at a time.
