Beaver/Muskrat Information and Removal Permits

Beavers and Muskrats play important roles in New England's ecology and provide many environmental benefits. For example, they help create and preserve wetlands that spawn ecosystems germane to our fragile environment. However, sometimes their activities can negatively impact human health and safety, such as when they cause a flooded septic system or roadway, then beavers create hazards for people.

If you are experiencing problems with beavers or have questions, contact the Mass Wildlife Northeast District Office at (978) 772-2145 (M-F 7:30am to 4:00pm).

If you believe the problem is creating a threat to human health or safety (see definition below), you can contact the Marlborough Health Department (508-460-3751 or board_of_health@marlborough-ma.gov) for a 10-day emergency permit to address the problem. Click here to learn what you are allowed to do if the permit is granted, what to do if the permit is denied, and what to do if the 10-day emergency permit has expired and the problem has not been resolved. 

Note: Even with an emergency permit from the Marlborough Health Department you also may need conservation commission approval, so be sure to give that office a call (508-460-3768).

It is important to understand that in any permitting process, the property owner must approve permit filings. Even if your property is being adversely impacted by "upstream" beaver activities, the owner of the property where the dam or obstruction is located should be approached before any permit is filed or any department is contacted.

In addition, please keep in mind that the cost associated to properly alleviating the flooding is the responsibility of the affected party, not the property owner where the beaver dam is located.

Threats to human health or safety

M.G.L. c.131, s80A lists the following as threats to human health and safety:

1. Beaver or muskrat occupancy of a public water supply (in this case the Dept. of Environmental Protection must make the determination).
2. Beaver or muskrat-caused flooding of drinking water wells, well fields, water pumping stations, sewage beds, septic systems, sewage pumping stations, public or private ways, driveways, railways, airport runways or taxiways, electrical, gas, communication, or other public utility structures or facilities.
3. Beaver or muskrat-caused flooding affecting the public use of hospitals, emergency clinics, nursing homes, homes for the elderly, fire stations, hazardous waste, incineration, or resource recovery facilities, or other facilities where flooding may result in the release or escape of hazardous or noxious materials.
4. Damage (gnawing, chewing, entering, or other damage) to electric or gas facilities, transmission or distribution equipment, cable, alarm systems, or facilities caused by beavers or muskrats. 

Beaver or muskrat-caused flooding or structural instability on the applicant's property, if it poses an imminent threat of substantial property damage or income loss of the following types: flooding of residential, commercial, or industrial facilities; flooding of or access to commercial agricultural lands which prevents normal agricultural practices from being conducted; and reduction in the production of an agricultural crop caused by flooding or compromised structural stability of commercial agricultural lands.