Bill > S554

This bill aims to regulate the use of trapping devices to capture furbearing mammals, such as beavers and muskrats, in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. It prohibits the use of traps designed to capture and hold furbearing mammals by gripping their bodies or body parts, such as steel jaw leghold traps, padded leghold traps, and lethal snares. 2. It allows the use of certain traps, such as box or cage-type traps, for the purpose of protecting public health and safety, conducting scientific research, or managing furbearing wildlife under specific conditions and regulations set by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. 3. It establishes an emergency permit process for municipal boards of health or the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to issue permits to alleviate immediate threats to public health and safety caused by beavers or muskrats, such as flooding of public infrastructure or water supplies. 4. It requires any person issued a permit under this section to report the details of the trapping activity, including the number and species of animals taken, to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife within 30 days of the permit's expiration.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S554