(WWJ) Michigan's Department of Natural Resources issued an amendment Thursday expanding the list of nuisance animals that are legal to trap and kill in the state.
Prior to the new order, Michiganders without a permit were only allowed to kill, or "take," woodchucks, skunks, racoons and coyotes that were a direct or imminent threat to people or property.
That list now includes beavers, cottontail rabbits, fox squirrels, gray squirrels, ground squirrels, red squirrels, muskrats, opossums and weasels.
In the past, if a person wanted to trap or kill these nuisance animals on their property, they needed to obtain a permit. The permit process often took several days and involved an inspection, which has proven inefficient for both the DNR and the property owner.
According to the DNR, property owners -- or someone they have designated -- can ONLY trap and kill nuisance animals on their own property and ONLY if that animal is causing immediate or imminent damage.
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For the purposes of the guidelines, "damage" is defined as "physical harm to forest products, roads, dams, buildings, orchards, apiaries, livestock and horticultural or agricultural crops."
Additionally, beavers and muskrats can only be taken or removed if their activities are causing flooding or blocking culverts.
While many are praising the eased restrictions, MLive reports that opponents of the new order -- such environmental and wildlife activists and indigenous communities -- say that developers and property owners should instead be required to plan better before building in an area.
The full text of the new regulations, including legal trapping methods, can be found here.
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