Hey guys, I just got this email from Stan Steele who works relentlessly on our behalf to preserve our trapping rights in Oregon.

Subject: Anti-Beaver Harvest Legislation

Rep. Pam Marsh-Southern Oregon/Medford will be dropping a bill in the Oregon House of Representatives in the upcoming 2021 legislative session that would (if passed), ban harvest of beaver on all federally managed lands in Oregon. Rep. Marsh supported the two failed attempts to ban beaver harvest through the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission regulatory process.

Is this the reason Commissioner Wooley has been misleading/stalling on setting up the beaver work group? Most likely! Inside knowledge? Politics at play here?

It will be incumbent on each one of us to contact our respective State Senators and Representatives and voice our opposition to this thinly veiled attempt to ban trapping-all trapping, not just beaver. We should have all learned a valuable lesson from the Cougar/Bear hound hunting ban and more recently the Pine Marten closure. It will be up to all of us to defeat this non-science based legislation.

You may email Stan Steele at: riverrunguide@yahoo.com for more information.

What will you change your name to when you cant peel beaver?

Pam Marsh
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
Pam Marsh
Pam Marsh is an American Democratic politician currently serving in the Oregon House of Representatives. She represents the 5th district, which covers southern Jackson County, including the city of Ashland.

Hey -- BP -- not to be an *** but did you vote for this one or is it not your district?

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Not in my district though.

Best of luck fighting this thing guys!

Thanks Cameron.

And it keeps getting "more interesting". Conservationfilmfest.org has produced a 64 minute film called "Beaver Believers---5 scientists and a hairdresser who take a bite out of climate change one stick at a time".

They are going for the hearts and the minds of the American public. High time we get positive messaging out from our side to "balance" the information stream.

Sorry man -- but I had to give you crap for it. Let me know if there is anything meaningful that I can do ( I don't have much pull with any dems - so no influence in this state) but it is way past time for me to get politically involved.

LOL, but you think I might have some pull? But good on you for wanting (or at least willing) to get involved. I don't really enjoy being involved but have always tried to do what I can ever since Ballot Measure 97 woke me up however many years ago that was.

I'll keep posting what I can on here. I think the message to our representatives needs to be short and to the point. As I see it, the main point being that there is a lack of evidence that modern day trapping is having any negative effect on beaver populations on public lands. A beaver work group has been proposed by the ODFW Game Commission which should shed light on the pertinent issues for beaver management on public land. To create a legislative 'end-around' at this time is totally inappropriate.

No relation. Maybe she should change her name or change her way. All the Marsh's that I know strongly support Trapping and Outdoor activities.

We've beat it before we'll do it again

Here is what I think we should all be paying attention to. The antis' goal is to end trapping in the USA. They focus on one or two states at a time and see what works. They learn as they go and what works in one place will be applied to the next. A book called "Eager Beaver" is likely the source for much of the movie they produced "Beaver Believers".

If we sit back and do nothing now to counter the the slanted information stream we will always be in a defensive posture when ballot measures or legislation is proposed.

Oregon has successfully beat two anti-trapping ballot measures over the years. We also have recently dodged the bullet twice at Game Commission meetings. But we also were blindsided by a marten closure two years ago where the commission did not listen to science or even their own furbearer biologists and went with the antis.

Stay tuned.

democraps aren't american. if anything anti-american!

If this really concerns you, you had a better friend in Trump than you will ever have in Biden or Harris. The main stream media will never support you and your efforts.

Trapper 7, I think you're right. I'll concede to that point. But hopefully even if you find my overall political views not to your liking, we all stick together on fighting the antis to preserve our trapping privileges.

I agree with you on all points, beaverpeeler.

I keep getting updates on the proposed beaver trapping ban on federal land in Oregon so I will pass these on to those interested here. Even if you don't call Oregon home you may want to pay attention because the tactics being used against us, and the groups financing all of this are out of state and they are out to stop trapping nation wide. One state at a time.

Defenders of Wildlife (DOW) is one of the major backers of the proposed ban in Oregon. They are advertising to their members right now that they will match charitable contributions X 4 from their corporate sponsors. You may be interested to know that their CEO and top 9 earn salaries totaling $2.5 million dollars.

I guess they won't be getting a $600 dollar check this month.

Bottom line is we trappers in Oregon are up against a well funded movement.

I heard DOW has a lot of clout with the Biden Administration. On DOW’s website they say they are hoping to work with the Biden administration for years to come. DOW also praised the selection of Deb Haaland, an anti-trapper, being selected for the Department of the Interior. Elections have consequences and it looks like us trappers are going to pay for this one.

You make good points Granda Trapper. Still, wildlife regulations are mostly made at the state level and we still need to keep hammering home our message within our state and to the people who reside there.

You are correct. I have a close relative that is heavily involved with anti-trapping groups. She told me they are hoping that if the dems take control of the Senate and this will give them free reign to introduce more federal anti-trapping legislation and encourage the new administration to side with them. It appears Biden is on their side. It also appears they may be changing their tactics and going after federal land as in Oregon and choosing Deb Haaland for the Dept. of Interior who will be in charge of over 247 million acres of public land across the West. If trapping is outlawed on BLM land there goes my trapping since I do all of it on BLM land. Every anti-trapping bill in the past, that I am aware of, has been introduced by Democrats. This doesn’t look good. It looks like this beaver thing in Oregon is going to be a test for other trapping in your state and then the nation.

I think part of the reason that Deb Haaland was chosen is that it furthers Biden's campaign pledge of a diverse cabinet. Since she is native American that fills one ethnicity spot for them.

Her record as having supported anti-trapping efforts in the past is very troubling. But we're not sitting on our laurels here. We have things we are working on. Deb still has to do things according to law and major decisions that affect federal lands is up to congress. As you point out, we need to root for success in Georgia.

Any speculation when this bill will be introduced?

Interesting that a state representative is proposing legislation to ban beaver trapping on federal lands. Generally speaking, states are in charge of managing wildlife within their boundaries and can regulate what happens on federal lands. That said, this legislation could potentially impact more than half of the State of Oregon as roughly 52% of Oregon is in federal ownership, what that ownership breakdown is by agency would be worth knowing. In my experience with beaver management, a hands off approach creates long term issues that are not positive both for the beaver and the habitat that supports the beaver. I think this legislation is short sighted and does not consider the long term negative changes that will occur with a total ban on beaver trapping. A more logical approach would involve targeted protection to meet habitat objectives along with targeted management of beaver to address inevitable damage issues to infrastructure and ultimately habitat degradation due to over protection of beaver. Habitat degradation will ultimately lead to reduced carrying capacity of beaver in these areas and reduce or eliminate the role that they hope beaver would play to meet habitat objectives.

Good points all Torch. We have some national forest lands that have been off limits to trapping beaver for as long as I've been a beaver trapper..((a very long time). You would think they would b crawling with beaver by now. Not the case. It all comes down to habitat and if you don't have new seccessional vegetative growth in the riparian zones, proper stream gradients, etc. you don't have beaver habitat.

Good habitat not only tolerates (beaver) harvest but is helped in long-term population stability by reduction of overcrowding and the potential for disease and fighting mortality.

Perhaps the unfortunate fires from last summer in Oregon will create some of that new successional growth. We had a large fire here about 10 years ago and the beaver numbers are starting to climb. The area that burned was dominated by mature forest with little quality beaver forage. This area is now 90,000 plus acres of young forest with abundant amounts of food and water. Some of this same area had been off limits to beaver trapping 70 years ago and wildlife managers at the time noted that the beaver populations in the closed areas were in worse shape than the areas that trapping occurred, and forests were much younger at that time. The beaver numbers will explode in this area and I can only imagine the amount of re-engineering they will accomplish in the years ahead. The number of beaver that could be annually harvested from this area is hard to estimate, however it would be substantial and sustainable for decades. In addition, the beaver would still do what beaver always have done, re-engineer the landscape and create an abundance of new wildlife habitat.

We're lucky to have stan in our corner bringing awareness to all of us here. I enjoy reading his emails and knowing what's going on.

Our good friend and Oregon legislative watchdog Stan Steele sent an email today informing of us of three 'red flag' house bills to be considered in our next legislative session.

HB 2676 (Rep. Nosse District 42 Portland) Prohibits sale, offer for sale, display for sale, trade or the distribution for consideration of fur product in state of Oregon. Class A misdemeanor-$6250 fine -364 days of imprisonment or both.

HB 2843 (Rep. Marsh district 5 Jackson county)
Prohibits taking of beavers on federally managed land, in waters of this state as waters flow through federally managed public land or in pond, lake, or water storage facility on federally managed land.

HB 2844 (Rep. Marsh and Sen. Gorsek)
Removes beavers from "Predatory Animal and Rodent" classifications from Wildlife Damage Statutes and Administrative Rules. Restricts removal of damage causing beaver on federally managed public lands with few exceptions and removal can only be accomplished by federal personnel. Instructs Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife to publish annual report related to taking beavers and make report available to public. ODFW rules must be made on or before Dec. 31, 2022.

Guys..time to step it up is imminent. Good grief!

Carl weren't you paying attention in the past. There are many things the president and their minions can do outside of congress to effect the use of BLM lands.

Good luck in your fight to keep what you have and keep up the fight and your good works.

Personally, I'm not overly concerned with that. States have been largely granted jurisdiction over hunting and fishing regs on federal lands.

Under various statues, federal agencies are required to cooperate, consult, or coordinate with states in ways that stop short of full delegation but basically stay out of the local decision making except for migratory bird regs and the endangered species act.

Point being, Deb Haaland will not be able to change current protocol without congressional approval...IMHO.

Gonna email Stan right after I post this. We need to fight to protect each other's rights. Was raised in Oregon and will still fight to protect those RIGHTS. Thanks for posting and keeping us all in the loop.

Good for you. Really appreciate it!

Carl has there been any help from FTA, NTA, Sportsman Alliance or any other groups on this issue?

Let me get back to you on that.

Thanks Dirtydog

I know that Stan feels we are getting good support form the Sportsman Alliance.

I just had a lengthy conversation with Stan and he had glowing reports of dealings with all three organizations. They are really stepping up.

But to be successful we need to all stand up, do our parts and support these fine organizations. The amount of money they have to put into the fight pales in comparison to what the antis have. And even if you think you live in a state where the antis will have trouble making inroads, think again. They will be after all of us so the time is here to support your state's trapping organization and the FTA and NTA as well.

BP sorry to hear that they are trying to ban beaver trapping in your state. However I just read a article online that really has me worried for the future of your great state! Passage of the Measure 110 decriminalizes the possession of ALL illegal drugs in Oregon. Under this law those in possession will be fined a $100 citation that will be dropped if they agree to a health assessment!!!! WHAT is this world coming to? Sorry for getting off subject but I couldn't help but throw this info out there!!!!!!!