TRENTON, NJ – A new bill introduced in the New Jersey Legislature proposes significant changes to the state’s wildlife management regulations, specifically targeting the regulation of beaver trapping. The legislation aims to remove the existing statutory cap on the number of beaver trapping permits the Division of Fish and Wildlife can issue annually, which is currently set at 200.
The bill seeks to amend R.S.23:4-55, which dictates the conditions under which beavers can be trapped, taken, or killed. Under the current law, individuals must obtain a valid permit from the Division of Fish and Wildlife to engage in these activities, with the trapping season designated from January 15 to February 15 each year. Each permit allows for a season limit of five beavers, and the fee for each permit is set at $15.00. The proposed amendment would maintain the permit fee and penalties for violations but eliminate the limit on the total number of permits issued within a calendar year.
This legislative action is intended to give the Division of Fish and Wildlife greater flexibility to manage the state’s beaver population according to ecological needs and landowner requests. It also aligns the management of beavers with that of other game species, for which the division already possesses the authority to issue permits as deemed necessary.
The bill also reaffirms the division’s discretion to issue permits to landowners or lessees for the purpose of controlling beavers that pose a threat to property, providing a mechanism for addressing local concerns over beaver-related damages.
Set to take effect immediately upon passage, this bill represents a shift towards more adaptive wildlife management practices, allowing for responsive adjustments to beaver population dynamics and human-beaver conflicts across New Jersey.
