Nuisance Beaver Control

General Information

Oklahoma's beaver population reached an estimated all-time high in 1991. It's hard to believe that this species was considered nearly extinct as recently as 1920. As populations of this large rodent increase, beaver damage complaints also become more numerous. Agencies responsible for handling animal damage complaints currently receive more than 1,000 reports of beaver damage annually. Habitat alteration has been a primary factor in the expansion of beaver populations. Because beavers survive best where there is a constant supply of water, the channelization and impoundment of many of Oklahoma's rivers greatly increased suitable beaver habitat. Many streams, which used to dry up during the summer months, now flow year-round making conditions in Oklahoma much to the beaver's liking. Along with an increase in shoreline and surface water have come vegetation changes favorable to beavers. The availability of cottonwoods, a favorite beaver food, has increased statewide. In addition, lower prices for beaver pelts have decreased the number of animals removed by furtakers. In Oklahoma, the average pelt price for beaver peaked in 1980 at $12 with a harvest of 2,894 beaver.

Beavers are a natural part of Oklahoma's wildlife heritage and their activities benefit many of Oklahoma's other wildlife species, such as muskrats, mink, raccoon, deer, turkeys and many species of waterfowl. However, beaver activities can have a negative impact - flooding forest and farm lands, plugging culverts and causing the washout of roads. In Oklahoma, an estimated $800,000 to $900,000 in damage has been attributed to beavers annually since 1989.
In the past, much of the responsibility for removing nuisance beavers was handled by Animal Damage Control Agents working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Animal Damage Control will continue to provide beaver control in participating counties throughout the state, but additional control efforts will be facilitated by the Nuisance Beaver Control Program implemented by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The goal of the Nuisance Beaver Control Program is to reduce the amount of property damage caused by beavers rather than concentrating on reducing the overall beaver populations. To accomplish this, a Nuisance Beaver Control Permit, issued by the Wildlife Department, may be requested by those wishing to take beaver on private or public lands. Approved methods of removal include body-gripping traps and night shooting.

Nuisance Beaver Control Permit

Two types of permits are available:
Private: This permit is required by those private individuals who wish to control beaver on their own property and/or on property owned by other private individuals.

Government: This permit is required by municipal or county government agencies that offer assistance in the removal of nuisance beavers on their local public lands and/or private lands within their jurisdiction.

Both permits types consist of two parts. The first part is an annual permit that is issued to either a private individual or government agency on a calendar-year basis (i.e. Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, annually). The second part is a Landowner/Lessee Release Form. The release forms must be submitted for each specific nuisance beaver control situation on private land and are specific as to when and where beaver control methods may be used by the permittee. Release forms are valid for 30 days for night shooting for 60 days for trapping from the date of issue. A new release form must be submitted if more beaver control work at a specific site is required.
All permittees must maintain records and submit a report to the Wildlife Department within 10 days after the expiration of the release form. Reports must provide the following information for the period of the release for:m name, address and telephone number of the permittee; name, address and telephone number of the landowner/tenant; number of beaver harvested; county of harvest; and disposition of harvested beaver. Reports may be inspected by the Department at any time. Beaver pelts, carcasses and castor may be sold for profit by the permittee.
Permits requests should be sent in writing to the Wildlife Department's Wildlife Division.

Persons requesting either a private or governmental permit must meet the following criteria:
1. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Persons born on or after January 1, 1972, who will be controlling beaver under either permit are required to complete a hunter safety course sponsored by the Wildlife Department or provide proof of equivalent training.
3. Those who will be controlling beaver with body-gripping traps must complete the Wildlife Department sponsored beaver trapping training course, or provide proof of equivalent training.
4. Permits are valid only when a Release Form has been submitted and are not transferable.

Violations

Any violation of the Nuisance Beaver Control Permit provisions will be considered a violation of Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code (Oklahoma Statutes, Title 29), and shall be prosecuted as such. Violations occurring during the three years prior to application for a private Nuisance Beaver Control Permit shall be grounds for refusal to issue the permit.

Harvest Provisions
• Body-gripping traps with a jaw-spread no greater than 10 inches (25.4 cm) on a side if square and 12 inches (30.5 cm) if round may be used for underwater sets only. Use of foothold traps will be in accordance with the general Furbearer Regulations, except with regards to the number of traps a permittee shall use. There is no restriction on the number of traps a permittee shall have set at any given time.

• All traps must be visited and all captured animals removed at least once a day. All traps must be identified with the trappers name and address. Signs measuring five by eight inches with the word "TRAPS" printed in letters at least 1/2 inch tall must be posted in conspicuous locations. Person trapping on their own proptery are not subject to the posting of signs.

• Permittees may night shoot nuisance beaver by using shotgun only with BB-size shot or smaller. No person may shoot beaver at night while pursuing furbearers with hounds, except during the legal open furbearer season, December 1 to January 31, annually.

• To protect river otter populations, Haskell, LeFlore, Latimer, McCurtain, Pushmataha, Pittsburg, Choctaw, McIntosh and Atoka counties will be closed to body-gripping traps between January 15 and February 28, annually. Any river otters accidentally taken under this permit shall be turned over to the Wildlife Department.

• Person failing to comply with the provisions of the Nuisance Beaver Control Permit, Wildlife Conservation Codes of Oklahoma or providing false information to obtain a permit may have their Nuisance Beaver Control Permit suspended or revoked. Suspension of the permit will be for a period not less than one year. Upon receiving a complaint about services rendered by a permittee, the Wildlife Department shall review allegations. If a full investigation is warranted, the Wildlife Department shall immediately suspend the permit for a period not to exceed 90 days. If allegations are confirmed, the permit will be revoked. Revocation of a Nuisance Beaver Control Permit may be appealed by writing the Wildlife Department director within 20 days.