Nature Walk with Mike Kost: Beavers and Biodiversity

Join the Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance for a special nature walk led by Mike Kost, Associate Curator at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. We are fortunate to have Mike guide us through this landscape rich in natural communities and ecological stories.

Mike focuses on ecological restoration, rare species conservation, and native plant landscaping. Formerly the Lead Ecologist and Senior Conservation Scientist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at Michigan State University, he has dedicated his career to advancing biodiversity and fire ecology, oak regeneration, and rare species management.

Mike is also coauthor of A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan — a reference cherished by ecologists, naturalists, and students across the state. View the book from MSU Press

During this walk, we’ll explore how native plants, natural communities, and ecological management support biodiversity, with a special focus on beaver activity along Fleming Creek. Learn how beavers act as ecosystem engineers—creating wetlands, altering hydrology, and shaping habitats that sustain diverse wildlife.

Read more about the beavers at Matthaei: Beavers Settle Fleming Creek (UM Matthaei Botanical Gardensns Blog)