(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Pest control

Beaver claims dropping, but better formula needed according to farm group

Apr 15, 2019 | 8:00 AM

A program designed to lower the number of nuisance beavers in the province is working according to the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), but needs a better formula.

Ray Orb, who lives in the Cupar area, told paNOW concerns coming from the RM’s have not been as loud since the introduction of the Beaver Control Program last year.

“Part of that may be because some areas, maybe south central Saskatchewan, may be a little drier. We’re looking at actually being in a drought area now,” he said.

Under the current terms of the program, administered by SARM, licensed trappers receive $30 per adult tail they claim. Half the money comes from the province, while the other half comes from the pocket of the R.M. Orb said he would like to see the province increase its portion of the cost sharing agreement.

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“The R.M.’s have to match that $15 in order to get the $15,” he said.

According to the 2019-2020 provincial budget, the cost sharing for the program amounts to $450,000 which gets divided up equally amongst the R.M.’s identified as problem areas. The R.M. of Shellbrook has been one identified as one of those areas in the past. Administrator Donna Goertzen said the funding agreement is not fair.

“Am I happy with that? No. But I think it’s more of the provincial government just downloading costs,” she said.

Buckland Reeve Don Fyrk said they have had close to 200 eligible claims come in this year. In the past few years, there have been over 4,000. Fyrk said he would support an increase in funding.

“If we can get more money out of the province for a program, I think it’s a win-win situation for everybody because in that way it will save the R.M. money and they don’t have to put out as much,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell