Bill > HB3932

This bill establishes protections for beavers in certain environmentally sensitive areas, specifically those classified as category 4 or 5 in water quality reports by the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill prohibits recreational or commercial beaver trapping in streams, rivers, or watersheds that flow through or are adjacent to public lands, including areas within 200 feet of a river or stream's high water mark. It defines "nonlethal coexistence measures" as humane methods of managing beaver populations, such as using flow control devices, installing protective fencing, and carefully removing or notching dams to prevent flooding while protecting aquatic species. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife is required to publish and regularly update a map of protected areas. While the bill generally restricts beaver removal, it allows exceptions for land management agencies to address imminent threats to infrastructure or agricultural crops, with a preference for nonlethal solutions. The bill explicitly does not apply to private lands or interfere with tribal rights and harvest activities, demonstrating a balanced approach to wildlife conservation that considers both environmental protection and human needs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3932