The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has made it clear that the only place where beavers are welcome this year is on the backs of nickels.
SARM will lobby the province to institute a $20 bounty on the flat-tailed rodents.
Delegates to the association’s midterm convention in Saskatoon passed six resolutions either calling for a bounty or related to helping RMs cover costs associated with beavers.
“The process of removing the beaver dams from waterways is becoming very onerous on municipalities and that’s a concern we have,” said SARM president Dave Marit.
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“I think that’s why you’re seeing so many resolutions at this convention on it.”
Wes Black, reeve of the RM of Porcupine, said his RM has two men and a backhoe working four hours a day to clear beaver dams that block culverts and waterways.
These measures aren’t containing the problem, he added, because the beavers’ renowned tenacity means some dams are rebuilt within the same day they are cleared.
“The infrastructure is suffering because of the damage they are doing.”
Black said his ratepayers are suffering extensive damage to their property and their pocketbooks as beaver activity floods productive land.
The provincial government said it is aware of the problem.
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud announced at the convention that the province will compensate producers for losses caused by beaver damage.
He said the explosion in the beaver population is largely a result of a sharp decline in the value of beaver pelts.
“They’re not worth much right now and that’s our biggest problem.”
Bjornerud wouldn’t commit the government to instituting a bounty but did acknowledge that the situation is unacceptable.
“Something’s got to be done and we’re working with the ministry of environment to see what we can come up with,” he said, suggesting that conservation officers might be used to help thin the ranks of the problem animals.
Black said the bounty that the provincial government has previously placed on coyotes is a good model for a beaver cull.
Bjornerud said public perception might be a problem if a beaver bounty was instituted.
“I know I got a lot of heck for the coyote control program, but it was needed or we wouldn’t have done it, and I think every producer here would say it was a good program,” he said.
Black agreed people might have qualms about a beaver cull but said the problem has been ongoing and needs to be addressed.
