Can I trap and relocate problem beavers? in West Virginia | Beaver

West Virginia > Animal is plugging drains, pipes and ditches > Beaver

Live trap for removal of Beaver

The live trapping and translocation of beaver is generally not recommended and illegal in many states. Relocated beavers rarely stay in the area they are released and could cause problems in other areas. Survival of relocated beavers is often low, since they are unfamiliar with food resources and the best habitats are already occupied by other beavers who defend their territories. Lastly, moving beaver in the fall, affects their ability to develop an adequate food cache for the winter, potentially resulting in starvation.

Therefore, live trapping and translocation is generally a poor solution for resolving human-beaver conflicts.. Live traps suitable for capturing beavers are expensive, cumbersome to use, and require professional expertise. In most states, any trap used is required to be checked daily.

Assistance in West Virginia

Contact the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources for a list of licensed Animal Damage Control agents in your area who can assist with animal removal, damage, damage prevention, and clean up. Be aware that they charge for their services. Your local Division of Natural Resources office can provide guidance regarding nuisance wildlife. They can also provide you with a permit to remove or destroy certain animals, and advice on how to do so, if it is necessary or desirable for you to trap or shoot animals yourself. Federally protected species require additional permits as noted if necessary.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources district offices:

District 1 Farmington 304 825-6787

District 2 Romney 304 822-3551

District 3 French Creek 304 924-6211

District 4 Beckely 304 256-6947

District 5 Alum Creek 304 756-1023

District 6 Parkersburg 304 420-4550

Op Center Elkins 304 637-0245

Trapped animals must be humanely dispatched. They may not be relocated without prior approval from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Laws and regulations to be aware of

Regulations for West Virginia

Trapping, Shooting, Keeping in Captivity, and Moving Wildlife Trapping, Keeping in Captivity, and Moving Wildlife in West Virginia In West Virginia, it is illegal to trap or shoot nuisance wild animals without a nuisance wildlife permit. No permit is needed for game animals and furbearers during legal harvest seasons by hunting/trapping license holders using legal means. It is illegal to keep wild animals in captivity. It is illegal to move wild animals from one location to another without prior approval from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

While we attempt to provide guidance about state and federal regulations pertaining to specific species and control techniques, we do not provide information about local jurisdictions (city, town, county, etc.) where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Contact your local city or county government to inquire further. No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. You should become familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities.

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Can I trap and relocate problem beavers? in West Virginia | Beaver

Can I trap and relocate problem beavers?

Assistance in West Virginia