DERIDDER — The Beauregard Parish Police Jury on Tuesday adopted a bounty program that would award $10 per beaver tail.

The beaver population in the parish has increased in recent years, leading to problems in some areas. Beaver dams in Ragley have caused a significant amount of damage during heavy rains because they cause flooding, parish officials said.

Under the ordinance the panel adopted, bounty seekers must be a licensed and have previously registered with the Police Jury. Only Beauregard residents may receive the bounty.

“That way someone from Texas or somewhere can’t come up and say, ‘I have 85 tails,’ ” said Police Jury President Llewellyn “Biscuit” Smith.

Money for the bounties would come from the road districts where the beavers are caught.

“In some areas, maybe there aren’t going to be any beavers caught, probably,” said Police Juror Teddy Welsh. “Other parts are probably going to have many.”

The panel had considered making the bounty only $5, but decided to raise it to draw more interest.

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