What are regulations for controlling beaver populations?
Beaver dams may be removed or breached to restore normal water level and stream flow. It is not legal to disturb a beaver lodge, where the beaver lives. The lodge is a separate structure from the dam. A depredation permit is not required for beaver population control. Shooting and trapping of beavers is legal year-round by the landowner or with the landowner’s permission when depredation has occurred. Snares are a legal means of trapping beavers. The landowner must have a depredation permit only if beaver parts are to be sold from beavers taken outside of trapping season. A hunting and trapping license is required for someone assisting the landowner only if they sell beaver parts. See Beaver Management in North Carolina for more information.
