By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
Horry County, SC — The Beaver Reduction Program in Horry County is drawing renewed attention after a resident questioned the county’s practice of offering payments for the removal of beavers as part of its stormwater‑management strategy. The discussion has grown as residents seek clearer explanations of why lethal removal remains the county’s primary approach to beaver‑related drainage issues.
The program, created in 2022, allows licensed participants to remove beavers from approved locations and submit frozen front paws to the Stormwater Department as verification. Participants must hold a valid South Carolina Department of Natural Resources hunting license, commercial furbearing trapper license, or a depredation permit. Submissions are accepted on Fridays at the Horry County Public Works Complex with required documentation.
The county program is intended to reduce infrastructure damage caused by beaver dams that obstruct culverts and impede drainage.
They maintain the goal is not countywide elimination but targeted management where beaver activity directly affects stormwater systems.
Public debate intensified after resident Kristi Hinton raised concerns in statements she made publicly, calling the practice inhumane and saying the county has not clearly explained why removal is necessary. Hinton said she attempted to contact the Stormwater Department multiple times without receiving a response. She did not speak with Coastal Carolina News.
Beavers are native to South Carolina and contribute to wetland formation, water filtration, and habitat creation. Their dams can also create challenges for property owners and public infrastructure, leading to long‑standing disagreements over how local governments should balance ecological benefits with drainage needs.
Wildlife advocates have encouraged the county to consider non‑lethal options such as flow‑control devices, culvert protection, fencing, habitat modification, and professional wildlife‑management planning. Residents questioning the program have asked for more information about how impacts are evaluated and what alternatives were reviewed.
Supporters of the program argue that unmanaged beaver activity can cause costly damage and that the county must prioritize infrastructure reliability. Others have expressed discomfort with the requirement to submit severed paws, calling the method outdated.
The county has not indicated whether revisions to the Beaver Reduction Program are under consideration, but public interest continues to grow as residents seek clearer explanations of how wildlife‑management decisions are made and how future stormwater challenges will be addressed.
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com. All rights reserved.
Be the first to comment