[Reprinted from original]

To the Editor:

It should be noted in the (Jan. 15, 2020 Register Citizen) article in regards to beaver trapping in the state of Connecticut that the citizens of the state of Connecticut have two choices in regards to the control of beavers. And looking slightly to our North will prove my points.

Either trappers will pay the state of Connecticut to trap beavers, or the taxpayers of Connecticut will pay professional Wildlife Control companies to trap beavers.

In the state of Massachusetts, where two forms a very effective traps have been banned, most trappers gave up and stopped trapping, which everyone who is opposed to trapping feels they have had a success in the ban in “saving” beavers.

But what they have actually done is force the state and private citizens to hire private wildlife control companies to trap the beavers anyway.

The same will happen here in Connecticut. Beavers are prolific breeders, and will clog Connecticut's waterways with dams, quickly.

So unless the concerned citizens of Connecticut would like another cost to come out of everyone’s pocket, (yes, even the anti-trappers pockets) rather than having the trappers actually pay the state, go ahead and ban trapping in Connecticut.

There will still be trapping in Connecticut. Excess beavers will be harvested, nothing will change in that regard. So the real question is, do they want the state to pay to have a professional trapper remove the beavers, or do the taxpayers want to be paid to trap the beavers?

Either way....the beavers will be still be trapped...that part will not change. It is the only effective way to keep their numbers in control.

Jim Gilbert, Winsted