HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 250        FILED ON: 1/8/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 745

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

An Act relative to property damage caused by beaver..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 131 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 80A:— Section 80B: Notwithstanding the provisions of c. 131 §80A, the division of fisheries and wildlife within the department of fish and game is hereby authorized to conduct a limited pilot program to determine the most effective way to achieve a healthy and balanced population of beaver. The program shall be limited to the following counties: Berkshire; Essex; Franklin; Hampshire; Middlesex; and Worcester.

   The division shall promulgate such rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of this section. Records of the number of animals taken, the number of public nuisance complaints received, the method of taking, and the location of taking, shall be maintained by the division and reported annually to the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the use of the steel jaw leghold trap, padded leghold trap, and/or snares.

   The pilot program and department powers enumerated in this section shall expire on January 1, 2011.