Photo by Bob Gwaltney Photography / Getty Images
British Columbia has endured its worst fire season on record and is experiencing drought conditions in many regions of the province. Wildlife and their habitats are under extreme pressure as a result of the climate crisis. But as ecosystem engineers, beavers can help restore habitats that provide cascading benefits to plant and animal species. They keep water on the land, critical for a province that experiences more frequent and severe droughts and wildfires.
But beavers need your help!
Beavers are trapped under a commercial licensing regime in British Columbia. According to government data, 1,684 beavers were killed by licensed trappers for commercial and recreational purposes in the 2022-2023 trapping season. Trapping season for beavers opens in October for most regions in the province. It is critical that beavers receive protections so they can remain on the landscape instead of being killed for their pelts that are sold at fur auctions and end up in luxury fashion fur products.
The province needs to implement urgent measures to stop the commercial and recreational trapping of beavers and recognize their ecological benefits.
Click here to read the open letter from The Fur-Bearers that explains why there needs to be a shift from killing to coexistence, especially after the devastating fire season of 2023.
Take Action!
Use the one-click form below to send a letter to provincial ministers, calling for a prohibition on the commercial and recreational trapping of beavers and restrictions for all other species of fur-bearing animals. The form below requires your mailing address to ensure accuracy of connecting to the correct MLA.
If you are not a Canadian resident, you can email Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston (FOR.Minister@gov.bc.ca) and Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen (WLRS.Minister@gov.bc.ca).
