The Beaver Control Program helps reduce damage caused by beavers across Arkansas. Originally established as the “Beaver Eradication Program” under Act 630 of 1993 and coordinated by the Department of Finance and Administration, the program is now administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Arkansas’s conservation districts.
Under Act 1358 of 1997, the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $150,000 per year for two years to support local beaver control efforts. Conservation districts participating in the program receive $10 per beaver as reimbursement for payments made to certified beaver harvesters. Reimbursement is limited to beaver harvests, although district-level plans may include incentives for controlling other nuisance species.
Click here to view all the conservation districts currently participating in the program, along with their contact information.
Click here to view the FY26 Quarterly Beaver Report Form
Please note: Reimbursements are available only as long as program funds remain.
District Participation and Requirements
To participate in the program, each conservation district must submit a district beaver control plan to Department. Plans must comply with Subtitle XX, Title II of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission’s rules and must be approved before any harvesting begins. Each district must:
- Designate a beaver control officer
- Require notching of beaver tails when turned in to the control officer
- Include a reporting schedule for payments made to harvesters and board reimbursements
- Estimate the number of beavers to be harvested during the fiscal year
The Department allocates available funds to participating districts based on projected harvest, past participation, and other fairness factors.
Program Contact: Mary Elizabeth Lea
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (501) 682-3953