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Steve Windels will speak on the contributions, both positive and negative, of beavers to various ecological, economic, and social systems.

Dr. Steve Windels, an award-winning wildlife biologist with the U.S. National Park Service, will be the featured speaker at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center’s Dinner on the Bluff event on Saturday, Feb. 10.

In his talk, “Beavers: the Animal, the Myth, the Legend,” Windels will give attendees an overview of beaver natural history, including how they move and disperse, how beaver families are structured, how their dam-building and foraging behaviors affect the rest of the ecosystem, and how they interact with their primary predators, the gray wolf.

“Beavers are nature’s great engineers who dramatically impact the North American landscape” Eagle Bluff Executive Director Colleen Foehrenbacher said. “Humans and beavers have a colorful history when considering the 250 year boom of the fur trade and the impacts they have on residential and recreational lake shore areas around Minnesota. Dr. Windel’s talk will be a wonderful educational opportunity to learn more about the life history of this remarkable mammal.”

A new element to this year’s dinner events at Eagle Bluff is a partnership with Juniper’s Restaurant of Lanesboro. Tyler Shipton, executive chef and owner of Juniper’s, will be preparing an exquisite four-course meal to accompany the talk by Windels. The full dinner menu can be viewed on the event website. An optional add-on wine pairing is offered by the Libation Project of St. Paul.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets for this event are $75 per person and include the presentation by Windels and the meal. For more information and to register, visit eaglebluffmn.org/dinners or call 507-467-2437.

Dinner on the Bluff, now in its 20th year, is designed to give thought-leaders and experts in the environmental field the opportunity to discuss issues with the broader Eagle Bluff community.

Located in the scenic bluff country of southeast Minnesota, Eagle Bluff is a nonprofit, year-round residential environmental learning center providing education programs and outdoor adventures to more than 16,000 children and adults each year.

Through transformative hands-on experiences they aim to increase environmental awareness and appreciation for the natural world, and empower people to care for the earth and each other.