Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud announced $500,000 in new funding to help RMs remove beavers and dams in areas where beavers are causing damage. This will be a one year pilot program and will be administered by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM).
"There has been a substantial increase in beaver damage across the province due to excess moisture and a decrease in trapping in recent years," Bjornerud said. "We are pleased to work with SARM and provide this funding to help producers and RMs address this issue."
The number of beaver pelts taken by licensed trappers in Saskatchewan has decreased dramatically in recent years from approximately 28,500 in 2000, to 11,250 last year, due primarily to lower pelt prices.
"Beavers are causing significant damage to rural infrastructure, private property and farm land in many areas and we are pleased the provincial government is stepping up to help address the issue," SARM President David Marit said. "SARM is pleased to work together on this initiative and appreciates the opportunity to manage the program to meet the needs of RMs."
Bjornerud also announced $150,000 in additional funding for SARM to administer rat control programming. The provincial government will now provide a total of $750,000 to SARM in 2011-12 to help producers and RMs deal with the rat population in rural Saskatchewan.
The province will continue to provide $50,000 to SARM to administer the wild boar control program in 2011-12.
Bjornerud also announced continued funding for the control of gophers in 2011-12. Under the program producers and RMs are eligible to receive a 50 per cent rebate on eligible gopher control products.
