On Sun, 5 Oct 1997, Burton Guttman wrote (in response to a message about
landowners trapping beavers):

> Do any of you know if this is legal? Until I read this, I hadn't thought
> about laws protecting mammals that are comparable to those that protect
> birds, except hunting laws, of course. Can anyone enlighten me/us?

Beavers are furbearers that can be legally trapped according to license
requirements, seasons and bag limits. But, they can also be trapped
by a landowner (without regard for these regulations) if the beavers
are doing damage to property. The landowner is required by law to
report to state Fish and Wildlife having killed the animals (within 24
or 48 hours I believe) and is also required to give up the carcass
to the Department for disposal. This provision of state law applies to
birds as well but the federal law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act)
protecting most birds likely prevents legal killing of birds doing
damage to property without the involvement of federal Animal Damage Control.

Kelly McAllister