Oregon has stubbornly refused to make beaver trapping illegal. But at least it might be willing to outlaw said trapping in particular watersheds.

Proposed House Bill 3932 limits beaver trapping from certain watersheds

SALEM, Ore. – Conservation groups across the state are rallying in support of a bill that would protect beaver habitats. House Bill 3932 would prohibit beaver hunting and trapping in waterways on certain public lands. It’s in an effort to protect the keystone species, create more biodiversity, and improve water quality in streams.
A beaver swimming.

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN), is an Ashland-based conservation group and just one of several organizations across the state that submitted testimony in support of the bill. SOCAN Executive Director Daniel Scotton says the expansion of beaver habitats is critical for wildfire suppression.

“The more wetlands we have, the more firebreaks we have. While they may not completely stop a fire, they can buy people time to evacuate. If a wetland is large enough, it could be a really powerful abatement for wildfires,” Scotton said.
A beaver holds a stick in a stream.

The bill had its first public hearing last Tuesday but has not been voted on by either chamber.

Opponents of the bill say it creates unnecessary overreach into wildlife management decisions.

Gee I’m curious how this is going to go down. I’m reminded of the agreement by USDA in California to only trap beavers in the rivers with bad fish.

How did that work?