AUGUSTA – Depressed beaver pelt prices have resulted in several Maine towns being overrun by the cute, fuzzy but destructive rodents, costing thousands of dollars in road repairs and removal costs.

A bill that would allow town officials to shoot beavers, submitted by Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, was scrutinized Tuesday during a public hearing before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.

Under current law, only state agents are allowed to kill beavers outside the open trapping season.

Opponents of the legislation, including the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Trappers Association, said municipalities already have the tools necessary to control the woodland workaholics.

Jim McNaughton, Leeds’ road foreman, said in the past three years the town has spent about $3,000 trying to keep the beavers away and to repair road damage.

“We couldn’t trap ’em out, so they’ve done damage and washed out roads,” he said. “The cost of eradicating the beaver the way (Inland Fisheries) would like it done is cost-prohibitive to our town.”

McNaughton said he had spoken with peers in more than 10 other local towns and none had enough money in their budgets to take care of the beavers.

“One trap costs $400,” McNaughton said. “And the state agents can charge municipalities whatever they want.”

Kate Dufour of the Maine Municipal Association said towns and cities spend about $235 million a year to repair and maintain 13,000 miles of local roads.

“This is a significant investment of property tax dollars that needs to be protected,” she said. “In one case occurring in Orrington in 2001, the break in a beaver dam resulted in $200,000 worth of road damage.”

Herbert Whittier, public works director for Monmouth, said he has had trouble with beavers for 25 years. The town spent $5,000 to repair a culvert about 13 years ago, he said.

“But it’s on and on,” he said. “We’ve got to keep the beavers away to make the roads work, but we’ve got no money.”

The diligence of beavers is one reason Skip Trask of the Maine Trappers Association said Nutting’s proposal wouldn’t work.

“In many cases, removal of problem beavers is not the best solution and almost never a permanent one,” he said. “This is especially true in towns located along a major waterway.”

Trask said low fur prices and changes in tree harvesting practices that created ideal beaver habitat have resulted in a greater population, but shooting more beavers has never been the safest or most effective way of getting rid of them.

“Most beaver activity takes place at night and if you are lucky enough to see a beaver, it will be in the water and difficult to get a killing shot,” he said.

Trask suggested town officials work with trappers to solve the problems with no cost to landowners or towns.

Mark Stadler, director of the Wildlife Division at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said towns that don’t want to hire department agents to take care of the beavers can have their own officials certified as animal control agents. This would allow them to use the “full range” of beaver control methods available, and not limit them to shooting, he said.

The bill is scheduled for a work session next Tuesday afternoon.