Nuisance Beaver Permit

Town of Sandisfield 
Beaver Conflict Resolution Overview

Beaver Conflict Resolution Application and Permit
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The MA Department of Wildlife has assigned local Boards of Health the responsibility of investigating nuisance beaver or muskrat complaints and issuing emergency removal permits in Massachusetts. High waters caused by beaver activity may be infiltrating your septic system, threatening your well water, or flooding your dwelling. In these instances, it may be decided that immediate action is needed to the threat to human health and safety. This can be achieved by submitting a completed Nuisance Beaver Application, along with the $50 fee payable to the "Town of Sandisfield" to the Sandisfield BOH, 66 Sandisfield Rd Suite 5, Sandisfield, MA  01255.

  • Beaver Removal by a licensed trapper (Conibear or Cage Traps): Board of Health can issue a permit allowing a trapper to remove nuisance beavers. This permit is required only outside of the legal trapping season. The next legal trapping season runs from November through April.
  • Breaching of Dams* or Installation of Water Flow Device*: The Board of Health can permit the removal of the nuisance animals only. The Board of Health cannot give permission to breach (break up) or remove a beaver dam, as this involves wetlands regulations. In cases where the Resolution Application requests permission to breach a dam or employ water flow devices, the Sandisfield Conservation Commission will also need to approve the application.

If you are experiencing high waters caused by beaver activity on your property, please contact the Sandisfield Board of Health at 413 717 8922 or jespublichealth@gmail.com and arrange a site visit and together determine whether the beaver activity is causing an immediate threat to human health and safety. Once a field determination has been made, either the property owner or problem control agent/beaver trapper to  complete and submit the Beaver Conflict Resolution Application for Board of Health review, and if approved, arrange for the trapper at the property owner's expense. If the nuisance beaver is not located on your own property, you must obtain permission of the owner on a Land Owner Consent Form allowing the trapper to enter the premises.