Mississippi County gets green light to eradicate beavers

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Mississippi County's road and bridge department chief has the green light for a beaver hunt.

"We've got a beaver problem," Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said during the regular County Commission meeting Thursday, the Standard Democrat newspaper reported.

According to Blumenberg, Richard Wallace, county road and bridge superintendent, said he was advised by the new game warden that as long as he gives notification, he is authorized by the Missouri Conservation Department to kill beavers.

Beavers are a "nuisance," according to Blumenberg. They build dams in county ditches thereby causing flooding.

Blumenberg said the Maple Slough drainage ditch has the biggest problem with beavers right now.