Resolution No. 33-02A 

WHEREAS, prices for beaver pelts are low, thus discouraging trappers from trapping beaver for pelts, all the while the beaver population is increasing at an alarming rate; and

WHEREAS, there is an additional burden on RMs by having to hire equipment and men to unplug culverts and dynamite dams to prevent flooding of farm land and pastures and road damage;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby the government to reinstate the beaver tail bounty.

Response From the Hon. Pat Lorje:

Saskatchewan Environment recognizes that wildlife/human conflicts often occur wherever development occurs. In the case of beavers, there are several practical solutions that can be used to address local beaver problems depending on what they are. These solutions are outlined in a pamphlet published by Saskatchewan Environment called "Nuisance Beaver Control".

In addition to these solutions, an RM can have protected status of beavers removed, which would allow the RM to dispatch the problem beavers provided the RM has landowner permissions, and/or has a management trapper harvest the problem beavers. Past experience in Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions has demonstrated that bounty programs, designed for population control purposes, do not achieve the desired results, and therefore Saskatchewan Environment does not believe it is efficient or effective to direct financial resources to a bounty program.

A list of management trappers can be obtained from a Conservation Officer, your local Saskatchewan Environment office, or by contacting the Saskatchewan Trappers Association directly at (306) 769-8687.