Dr. Emily Fairfax
@emilyfairfax.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Minnesota and the St. Anthony Falls Lab. Ecohydrologist, beaver dam enthusiast, and advocate for inclusive curriculum. Ask me about beavers! she/her
The solution? Use field work and community observations to make note of what your local beavers are *actually* building with, and then update the models to reflect that.
July 25, 2025 at 8:33 PM
The solution? Use field work and community observations to make note of what your local beavers are *actually* building with, and then update the models to reflect that.
In a new peer-reviewed perspective article led by my postdoc Jessie Moravek and with contributions from many members of the Fairfax lab, we summarized existing popular beaver occupancy models and highlight how beavers like to "break the rules," and then in turn, the models.
July 25, 2025 at 8:33 PM
In a new peer-reviewed perspective article led by my postdoc Jessie Moravek and with contributions from many members of the Fairfax lab, we summarized existing popular beaver occupancy models and highlight how beavers like to "break the rules," and then in turn, the models.
I had the very cool opportunity to be interviewed on @pbsnews.org for "Tipping Point: the Mighty Mississippi".
Check it out to hear all about how #beavers were part of the Mississippi River Basin's past, and need to be part of its future as climate changes!
www.youtube.com/live/C9NyCr4...
Check it out to hear all about how #beavers were part of the Mississippi River Basin's past, and need to be part of its future as climate changes!
www.youtube.com/live/C9NyCr4...
July 17, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I had the very cool opportunity to be interviewed on @pbsnews.org for "Tipping Point: the Mighty Mississippi".
Check it out to hear all about how #beavers were part of the Mississippi River Basin's past, and need to be part of its future as climate changes!
www.youtube.com/live/C9NyCr4...
Check it out to hear all about how #beavers were part of the Mississippi River Basin's past, and need to be part of its future as climate changes!
www.youtube.com/live/C9NyCr4...
Also this beav: ‘scuse me, got work to do. Don’t mess up the dam while I’m out. Thanks.
This beaver was surprisingly unbothered by us standing on its dam - it didn’t even slap its tail. It looked at us, swam back & forth a few times, then went about its errands.
Thanks for being chill, beav!
This beaver was surprisingly unbothered by us standing on its dam - it didn’t even slap its tail. It looked at us, swam back & forth a few times, then went about its errands.
Thanks for being chill, beav!
July 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Also this beav: ‘scuse me, got work to do. Don’t mess up the dam while I’m out. Thanks.
This beaver was surprisingly unbothered by us standing on its dam - it didn’t even slap its tail. It looked at us, swam back & forth a few times, then went about its errands.
Thanks for being chill, beav!
This beaver was surprisingly unbothered by us standing on its dam - it didn’t even slap its tail. It looked at us, swam back & forth a few times, then went about its errands.
Thanks for being chill, beav!
Me, standing on a dam and talking to a film crew: sorry we will almost certainly not see any actual beavers today. They’re usually sleeping in the middle of the day, especially when it’s super hot out like today.
This beav at 12pm sharp: sup
This beav at 12pm sharp: sup
July 14, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Me, standing on a dam and talking to a film crew: sorry we will almost certainly not see any actual beavers today. They’re usually sleeping in the middle of the day, especially when it’s super hot out like today.
This beav at 12pm sharp: sup
This beav at 12pm sharp: sup
Things I’d like to learn from #beavers: how to be famously productive while also being unhurried, unstressed, and peaceful as I go about my work.
April 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Things I’d like to learn from #beavers: how to be famously productive while also being unhurried, unstressed, and peaceful as I go about my work.
Super strong! They don't use them to build or pack mud (tho it would be cute). They use them: like a rudder while swimming; like a little cushion tucked under their rumps to sit on; and like a loud noise-maker when they slap water to scare predators and warn other beavs of possible danger!
April 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Super strong! They don't use them to build or pack mud (tho it would be cute). They use them: like a rudder while swimming; like a little cushion tucked under their rumps to sit on; and like a loud noise-maker when they slap water to scare predators and warn other beavs of possible danger!
Happy International #Beaver Day!
Do you have a question about beavers, their wetlands, or how they relate to climate change? Ask it here!
I’ll be sharing bits of beaver knowledge throughout the day, and if there is a question I *don’t* know the answer to, I will know who to ask to get it!
Do you have a question about beavers, their wetlands, or how they relate to climate change? Ask it here!
I’ll be sharing bits of beaver knowledge throughout the day, and if there is a question I *don’t* know the answer to, I will know who to ask to get it!
April 7, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Happy International #Beaver Day!
Do you have a question about beavers, their wetlands, or how they relate to climate change? Ask it here!
I’ll be sharing bits of beaver knowledge throughout the day, and if there is a question I *don’t* know the answer to, I will know who to ask to get it!
Do you have a question about beavers, their wetlands, or how they relate to climate change? Ask it here!
I’ll be sharing bits of beaver knowledge throughout the day, and if there is a question I *don’t* know the answer to, I will know who to ask to get it!
A lot of folks think when #beavers cut trees down or clip off branches then the tree just dies.
But actually, many of the trees beavers like to cut have evolved to re-sprout from the stump and grow back even stronger.
Trying to channel my inner beaver-chewed-tree, today.
But actually, many of the trees beavers like to cut have evolved to re-sprout from the stump and grow back even stronger.
Trying to channel my inner beaver-chewed-tree, today.
January 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A lot of folks think when #beavers cut trees down or clip off branches then the tree just dies.
But actually, many of the trees beavers like to cut have evolved to re-sprout from the stump and grow back even stronger.
Trying to channel my inner beaver-chewed-tree, today.
But actually, many of the trees beavers like to cut have evolved to re-sprout from the stump and grow back even stronger.
Trying to channel my inner beaver-chewed-tree, today.
BEAVERS! BEAVERS! BEAVERS! Come hear *three* awesome talks in a row about beavers at #AGU24!
Where: 144A-C
When: 10:20am on Thursday
Why: beavs are great and we have cool science on them
Where: 144A-C
When: 10:20am on Thursday
Why: beavs are great and we have cool science on them
December 12, 2024 at 12:58 AM
BEAVERS! BEAVERS! BEAVERS! Come hear *three* awesome talks in a row about beavers at #AGU24!
Where: 144A-C
When: 10:20am on Thursday
Why: beavs are great and we have cool science on them
Where: 144A-C
When: 10:20am on Thursday
Why: beavs are great and we have cool science on them
One of my favorite things about being a prof is taking students on overnight trips to university field / research stations.
This drone photo was taken by my Environmental Data Analysis class at the Cloquet Forestry Center earlier this fall. It's home to quite a few beavers and beaver dams!
This drone photo was taken by my Environmental Data Analysis class at the Cloquet Forestry Center earlier this fall. It's home to quite a few beavers and beaver dams!
November 24, 2024 at 1:26 AM
One of my favorite things about being a prof is taking students on overnight trips to university field / research stations.
This drone photo was taken by my Environmental Data Analysis class at the Cloquet Forestry Center earlier this fall. It's home to quite a few beavers and beaver dams!
This drone photo was taken by my Environmental Data Analysis class at the Cloquet Forestry Center earlier this fall. It's home to quite a few beavers and beaver dams!
Perks of being a remote sensing scientist: you can collect your satellite data and fly your drones from just about anywhere - including reclined in a giant beaver floaty drifting around a beautiful beaver pond. 😎
November 18, 2024 at 5:06 PM
Perks of being a remote sensing scientist: you can collect your satellite data and fly your drones from just about anywhere - including reclined in a giant beaver floaty drifting around a beautiful beaver pond. 😎
An interesting phenomenon observed at the beaver ponds up in Northern Minnesota - all the grasses in the wetlands have already gone brown/dormant for winter, but the grasses growing on the actual beaver dams are still green!
Why?
Not sure - maybe a combo of heat retention and nutrients?
Why?
Not sure - maybe a combo of heat retention and nutrients?
November 13, 2024 at 1:19 AM
An interesting phenomenon observed at the beaver ponds up in Northern Minnesota - all the grasses in the wetlands have already gone brown/dormant for winter, but the grasses growing on the actual beaver dams are still green!
Why?
Not sure - maybe a combo of heat retention and nutrients?
Why?
Not sure - maybe a combo of heat retention and nutrients?
Everything is pretty rough right now, but hey - the mini beaver dam analogs I built for a flume study have sprouted little baby willows just like we see on real beaver dams! So that’s cool, especially since the model BDAs are in a dark basement.
Such inspiring little willows, pushing thru darkness…
Such inspiring little willows, pushing thru darkness…
November 10, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Everything is pretty rough right now, but hey - the mini beaver dam analogs I built for a flume study have sprouted little baby willows just like we see on real beaver dams! So that’s cool, especially since the model BDAs are in a dark basement.
Such inspiring little willows, pushing thru darkness…
Such inspiring little willows, pushing thru darkness…
Though it’s fairly uncommon, some #beaver dams are incredibly tall! This dam measures 11-12ft from dam crest to stream bottom.
Are the beavers that built this dam also huge?
Nope! Well, no huger than normal. Just very clever with floating & pushing logs around while building.
Are the beavers that built this dam also huge?
Nope! Well, no huger than normal. Just very clever with floating & pushing logs around while building.
September 29, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Though it’s fairly uncommon, some #beaver dams are incredibly tall! This dam measures 11-12ft from dam crest to stream bottom.
Are the beavers that built this dam also huge?
Nope! Well, no huger than normal. Just very clever with floating & pushing logs around while building.
Are the beavers that built this dam also huge?
Nope! Well, no huger than normal. Just very clever with floating & pushing logs around while building.
Super excited to share that my PhD student Keitreice Kirksey and I were featured in Episode 2: Fire of the new PBS docuseries Dynamic Planet!
Check it out to learn more about beavers and wildfire, our segment starts at 28:30: www.pbs.org/video/fire-q...
Check it out to learn more about beavers and wildfire, our segment starts at 28:30: www.pbs.org/video/fire-q...
July 1, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Super excited to share that my PhD student Keitreice Kirksey and I were featured in Episode 2: Fire of the new PBS docuseries Dynamic Planet!
Check it out to learn more about beavers and wildfire, our segment starts at 28:30: www.pbs.org/video/fire-q...
Check it out to learn more about beavers and wildfire, our segment starts at 28:30: www.pbs.org/video/fire-q...
Are you in the Midwest? Want to learn about beaver wetlands as climate resilient natural infrastructure?
🔥🌱🦫
Come to the PPRSUM conference in Stillwater, MN Feb 25-28! I’m the opening speaker & running a post-conference beaver workshop at SAFL!
prrsum.umn.edu/symposium/um...
🔥🌱🦫
Come to the PPRSUM conference in Stillwater, MN Feb 25-28! I’m the opening speaker & running a post-conference beaver workshop at SAFL!
prrsum.umn.edu/symposium/um...
January 9, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Are you in the Midwest? Want to learn about beaver wetlands as climate resilient natural infrastructure?
🔥🌱🦫
Come to the PPRSUM conference in Stillwater, MN Feb 25-28! I’m the opening speaker & running a post-conference beaver workshop at SAFL!
prrsum.umn.edu/symposium/um...
🔥🌱🦫
Come to the PPRSUM conference in Stillwater, MN Feb 25-28! I’m the opening speaker & running a post-conference beaver workshop at SAFL!
prrsum.umn.edu/symposium/um...
(Beaver) Dam! That’s a big dam!
November 27, 2023 at 1:03 AM
(Beaver) Dam! That’s a big dam!
A cool thing about the University of Minnesota is most buildings are connected via skyways or tunnels (helps in very cold weather).
An even cooler thing is that there is a beaver statue in the basement of the library, just off one of the tunnels to my office building. Get to see this beauty daily.
An even cooler thing is that there is a beaver statue in the basement of the library, just off one of the tunnels to my office building. Get to see this beauty daily.
November 11, 2023 at 8:56 PM
A cool thing about the University of Minnesota is most buildings are connected via skyways or tunnels (helps in very cold weather).
An even cooler thing is that there is a beaver statue in the basement of the library, just off one of the tunnels to my office building. Get to see this beauty daily.
An even cooler thing is that there is a beaver statue in the basement of the library, just off one of the tunnels to my office building. Get to see this beauty daily.
My department is searching for a Postdoctoral Fellow that will convert to a tenure-track Assistant Professor job after 1-2 years!
Do you use eDNA? Or remote sensing? Or modeling? Or field work? Do you study environmental science? Or paleoclimate? Or BEAVERS?
Our search is broad! Apply!
Do you use eDNA? Or remote sensing? Or modeling? Or field work? Do you study environmental science? Or paleoclimate? Or BEAVERS?
Our search is broad! Apply!
October 9, 2023 at 5:30 PM
My department is searching for a Postdoctoral Fellow that will convert to a tenure-track Assistant Professor job after 1-2 years!
Do you use eDNA? Or remote sensing? Or modeling? Or field work? Do you study environmental science? Or paleoclimate? Or BEAVERS?
Our search is broad! Apply!
Do you use eDNA? Or remote sensing? Or modeling? Or field work? Do you study environmental science? Or paleoclimate? Or BEAVERS?
Our search is broad! Apply!
Hard to beat a day out paddling on the river.
Well, I suppose it would have been better if we’d seen beavs, but at least we got to look at a couple beaver lodges and plenty of chewed sticks!
Well, I suppose it would have been better if we’d seen beavs, but at least we got to look at a couple beaver lodges and plenty of chewed sticks!
September 25, 2023 at 3:18 AM
Hard to beat a day out paddling on the river.
Well, I suppose it would have been better if we’d seen beavs, but at least we got to look at a couple beaver lodges and plenty of chewed sticks!
Well, I suppose it would have been better if we’d seen beavs, but at least we got to look at a couple beaver lodges and plenty of chewed sticks!