Incidental Take Notice for Beaver Management in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit and authorization for the incidental taking of rare species, which may result from beaver management in Wisconsin.

Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species’ overall population at risk. Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit/Authorization.

Ponds that result from beaver dam construction are beneficial to a wide range of wildlife and plant species, but beaver activities can also damage and cause conflicts with natural and agricultural resources, property and infrastructure and human health and safety. Most conflicts occur because of flooding associated with beaver dams or the impact of beaver dams on water quality and conditions, but there may also be conflicts associated with beaver construction of bank dens and beaver cutting of trees.

Conservation measures associated with beaver management are detailed in the Conservation Plan and include a variety of measures to minimize impacts to rare species that could be impacted by the draining of beaver ponds. For rare species that are state and federally listed, this permit and authorization would cover incidental take under the state law but would not cover any incidental take under the federal law.

The disturbance caused by this project may result in some mortality; however, take will be minimized by following conservation measures. The DNR concludes that the proposed project will minimize impacts to the species by adhering to conservation measures; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence or appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and/or recovery of the state population of the species or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part and the habitat that is critical to their existence and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.

Copies of the Jeopardy Assessment, Conservation Plan and background information on the rare species are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR conservation biologist Rori Paloski at 608-516-3742 or Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to rare species by Feb. 22, 2026, to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI 53707
Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-3742

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.