Niehls said she looked unsuccessfully for Senate bills that may have included the prohibition against eating nuisance beavers. She couldn’t find any previous discussion of the provision during the legislative session. “It doesn’t look like it was included in any smaller bill before being incorporated into the omnibus bill,’’ she said.
Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, was a member of the conference committee. She said she does not know where the language against eating beaver came from.
Hawj didn’t respond to phone calls or emails from the Star Tribune seeking an explanation. Instead, a Senate DFL spokesperson issued a statement for him saying the conference committee dealt with “multiple provisions related to beavers coming from both chambers. This language emerged from many conversations between the House, Senate, DNR, and governor’s office.’’
New language also made it legal for landowners to dispose of or retain nuisance beavers (but not for eating) when killed by professionals.
Hansen, the other co-chair of the conference committee, said the House had no beaver provisions in its omnibus bill heading into conference.
When the finalized bill was discussed on the Senate floor, Sen. Nathan Wesenberg, R-Little Falls, objected to the ban as “ridiculous.’’ His short rant was captured on video, later finding its way onto social media.
