“Beaver Fever,” February 1

Sunday, February 1, 3 p.m.

St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center, 2101 North Gaines Street, Davenport IA

A half-hour episode of the lauded documentary series Wild Hope exploring how the return of adorable yet landscape-changing creatures brings chaos, controversy, and unique benefits to England, Beaver Fever serves as the third presentation in the 2026 QC Environmental Film Series hosted by River Action, the doc and bonus short Over & Under: Wildlife Crossing screening at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center on February 1.

The verdant British countryside today is a landscape brought to heel: tamed vistas dotted with manicured hedgerows; creeks and streams whose meanders have been straightened; and forests of neatly planted trees. Rewind the clock a few thousand years, and you’d see a very different world. Wildlands home to elk, lynx, wolves, and bears. And wetlands inhabited and shaped by beavers – creatures with an astonishing ability to transform the community around them.

Centuries ago, Eurasian beavers were driven extinct – in Britain, at least. But now these preeminent ecosystem engineers are back – charming many Britons, perturbing others, and all the while stimulating a healthy debate about whether the island nation is ready to embrace a wilder future.

Scientists have found that the ponds, braided streams, and wetlands created by the beaver dams have a dramatic effect on the landscape itself. “Little did we know what profound change we would observe,” says Richard Brazier, an ecologist at the University of Exeter. The new waterworks act like a giant sponge during torrential rains – absorbing water that would otherwise rush directly downstream. One village just below a beaver dam suffered from flooding for decades before the beavers arrived but hasn’t had a single flood since.

The Wild Hope series that produced Beaver Fever is designed to shine a light on the mavericks and changemakers who are restoring and protecting our natural world. The stories feature inspiring individuals who found their path to action and are having real impact on our planet. But there’s a part for each of us to play, and many different ways to engage. Environmentally minded audiences are invited to find their personal passion projects and join the community of changemakers who are turning Wild Hope into a global movement for preserving biodiversity.

Hosted by the North Scott High School Green Team, Beaver Fever will be shown in Davenport at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center on February 1 alongside the nine-minute documentary short Over & Under: Wildlife Crossings. The 3 p.m. screening is preceded by the 2 p.m. Enviro Connect featuring exhibits and networking opportunities, and followed by a Reflection Speaker discussion with Brittni Thorington, urban conservationist for the City of Davenport. Admission is $10, with students admitted free with ID, and more information and tickets are available by contacting River Action at (563)322-2926 and visiting QCEnvironmentalFilmSeries.org.