The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The summer beaver removal program will operate until Oct. 13, removing troublesome beaver that damage private lands, crops and public property, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers has announced. "Damage caused by beaver activity to provincial and municipal infrastructure and private property exceeds $ 1 million dollars each year," said Struthers. "This program is operated in conjunction with a winter beaver subsidy program and the beaver trapping season and is intended to help reduce beaver related damages." Manitoba Conservation will make funding available to municipal corporations and selected Northern Affairs communities after site-specific complaint locations have been assessed and approved by natural resource officers. Municipalities must employ trappers experienced in humane trapping methods to deal with the problem beaver. This is the ninth year that a summer removal program has been used to reduce damage caused by beaver. In 2003, 3,153 beaver were removed. Since the program began in 1993, approximately 54,000 problem beaver have been removed. A winter beaver subsidy program was introduced in 2001 as an incentive for trappers to take beaver during the regular beaver trapping season. The summer program will remain in effect to handle urgent, site-specific situations. "Maintaining the summer removal program and continuing incentives for trappers through a winter program, combined with increased pelt prices, will reduce the problems associated with beaver," said Struthers.
