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SF 811

Eating certain beavers prohibition repealer

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Grant Hauschild

Minnesota bill repeals beaver consumption ban, allowing beaver meat harvesting to help manage growing populations and create economic incentives for wildlife control.

Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
#huntingandgame #naturalresourcesandnaturalresourcesdepartment
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Bill Summary · SF 811

Legislative bill overview

SF 811 repeals Minnesota's prohibition on eating beaver, allowing the consumption of beaver meat under state law. The bill was introduced by Representative Grant Hauschild and is currently under review by the Environment, Climate, and Legacy committee. This represents a change to existing wildlife regulations that currently restrict beaver consumption.

Why is this important

Beaver populations in Minnesota have grown substantially in recent decades, leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts including property damage from damming and tree felling. Allowing beaver consumption could provide an additional wildlife management tool and create economic incentives for beaver harvest, while also potentially offering a local food source. The change reflects broader debates about balancing wildlife management needs with existing regulations.

Potential points of contention

  • Wildlife management philosophy: Whether consumption-based incentives are an appropriate tool versus relying solely on regulated trapping and population control measures
  • Food safety and public health: Questions about inspection standards, disease risks (like parasites), and whether state food safety protocols adequately cover wild beaver meat
  • Cultural and environmental values: Opposition from groups viewing beaver as ecologically important or objecting to expanding hunting/consumption of wildlife species

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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