MA Town, City Battle Over Beavers With Animal Advocates

SOUTHBRIDGE, MA—A battle over the possible killing of beavers in a neighborhood in Southbridge has come to a head, with the animal activist organization PETA stepping in to protect the animals.

Both Charlton and Southbridge officials reportedly voted in favor of hiring a contractor to trap and kill beavers along Guelphwood Road, which connects the two towns, to deal with the flooding issues that have plagued the area.

In August, a company called Beaver Solutions addressed the issue in a letter to the Southbridge ConservationCommission, indicating that based on the investigation of the area, the beavers would have to be "trapped and killed" and that it is illegal to relocate wildlife.

In neighboring town Charlton, the Board of Selectmen in September authorized a project that would include killing the beavers to reopen Guelphwood Road to the tune of $160,000, reports the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is announcing in a petition that, "Fortunately for the animals, the vote has reportedly been deemed invalid because of a procedural issue and trapping has been delayed." PETA said that the city is scheduled to vote again on Oct. 12.

"Killing these animals will backfire, because survivors will simply breed at accelerated rates, while inevitable newcomers will arrive to take advantage of the still-available resources," reads PETA's petition. "And the devices most commonly used to kill beavers—Conibear traps—cause animals to suffer immensely as they're slowly crushed or drowned (which, for beavers, can take more than 15 agonizing minutes), while those caught by their limbs eventually succumb to dehydration, starvation, or shock. Such traps are also indiscriminate, posing risks to "nontarget" victims, including companion animals and protected wildlife."

According to the Massachusetts Department of Wildlife, "Using traps to remove beavers can quickly solve beaver related problems. If you have a license, you can trap beavers using permissible traps during the open season (November 1st - April 15th). You will need to register your traps with MassWildlife if they are on someone else's property. You can also hire a licensed trapper or PAC agent to trap beaver on your property. You will need an emergency permit if you plan on using restricted traps or trapping beaver outside of the open season."

Photo of beaver (not a beaver involved in the situation) courtesy of Fairfax County National Park Service