SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois State Senator Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, has proposed a bill aimed at protecting beavers and regulating the activities of nuisance wildlife operators.
On Thursday, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the measure.
The bill would prohibit the destruction or disturbance of dams, lodges, burrows, or feed beds of beavers while trapping them. It also requires that any person who acts as a nuisance wildlife control operator for a fee must obtain a permit.
Joyce stressed the importance of protecting beavers and trapping them correctly without destroying their homes. “Some people don’t realize that beavers provide benefits to humans, such as improved water quality and flood control,” he said.
The proposed legislation aims to ensure the beaver population thrives and provides important benefits to the environment. It also aims to ensure that only qualified and responsible operators are performing correct trapping services.
Joyce acknowledged that wildlife operators provide an important service by removing unwanted animals from homes and other properties. However, he emphasized that the bill aims to ensure that ethical practices are followed and that only necessary wildlife removal takes place.
House Bill 2461 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee and will now be heard before the full Senate.
