Peter Dinklage reads a very funny letter in defence of beavers

In December 1997, as a result of an official complaint from a neighbour, a Michigan resident named Stephen Tvedten received, indirectly, a stern warning from the region’s Department of Environmental Quality in the form of a letter – a letter in which he was given six weeks to remove two “unauthorized” and “hazardous” dams from the stream on his property or else face prosecution. Tvedten’s amusing response soon made the local news. The case was quickly dropped.

Peter Dinklage joined us at Letters Live at The Town Hall, NYC to read this hilarious letter.

© Stephen Tvedten, Stephen Tvedten to David Price.

[kmw]

“I would like to bring to your attention a REAL environmental quality problem: bears are actually defecating in our woods.” Passive aggressive sass: level 10. 😂😂😂

[alexnelson]

That "CC PETA" at the end is just the cherry on top!

[patmanchester]

I could listen to him read a laundry detergent label. His voice is so beautiful.

[linabasilisk]

Having grown up next to a beaver swamp, this is not only funny, but brings back many happy memories. Beavers are dam fine animals.

[JBaxter-pioj]

Love Beavers and their dam work ethic! They've actually helped to prevent flooding in areas where they've been allowed to build their dams so they are, effectively, extremely good, unpaid, workers in sustainable construction. We should consider ourselves lucky to have their help. Great letter, great performance and wonderful subject. Thank you for sharing!

[honestg]

Brilliant. The back story is priceless.
The context of this letter: The Authorities, believing he had re-routed the water, were giving the guy a hard time and set a time scale to remedy it or legal action would ensue.

[zoekane]

I love Peter Dinklage! And not only does he have a beautiful voice, but he's handsome too.

[ktwashere]

this letter did the rounds on the internet more than two decades ago. It never fails to make me laugh. The guy that wrote this is a comedy genius.

[fruitbat]

Beavers have been reintroduced to selected areas of the UK to help cope with flooding . Scotland has an ongoing rewilding programme . Beavers are amazing

[Michelle-fdu]

I always watch movies with Peter in them. He is a tremendously talented actor, and that voice.

[linedanzer]

*His voice! It's everything!! And so is his delivery of that letter! I'm damn impressed!*

[dan]

I'd love to hear him read audiobooks.
Incredible actor in every way

[naomiskilling]

I'm very impressed at how many times this guy was able to get "dam" and "damn" into one letter. Excellent work, sir.

[susanr]

Dinklage and Beavers, not to be missed. Delightful! I burst out laughing, the bears are defecating in our woods!

[LindaB]

Born in Southern New England in the early 60's, beavers were a fact of distant history, and I never thought I'd ever see one. But then, in my late teens, I happily discovered a lodge in the river, by my backyard, which grew over time, and many twig/food caches. The beaver have not dammed the river behind my home, but have managed to reconfigure the many small streams that feed into it, so much so that, after a hard rain, I can now hear the roar of the water flowing over their constructions in the nearby swamp.
I'm SO damned glad that they've made a comeback!

[saltyroe]

For me this is very funny because when I was born my dad was building hydroelectric dams. The 1st time I observed beavers dad was driving us to Yosemite. I asked dad what he thought if beavers. He said beavers were better at building dams than he was. Dad also admirred their hard work which he could not natch. All the dams that dad built are still there, but dad said beavers modify their dams on a continuous basis, something he can no longer do at 99.

[badbiker]

My goodness that man has a dam fine voice. I could listen to him recite any dam thing he pleases and enjoy it regardless of the dam topic.

[devonvergiels]

I have a version of this letter that I take out every so often because it's always wonderful. BUT, Peter's voice, oh my . . .

[lisaboban]

Who is the genius who finds these letters and pairs them with the perfect performer? I would like to personally thank them for bringing me so much joy.

[jeannedd.]

Peter D. Has such a great voice, I could listen to him forever