Jury requests full-time trapper

Monthly, Henry Atkins attends the Vermilion Parish Police Jury meetings and reports on the trapping activities.

Atkins, who works with the USDA, receives 75 percent of his salary from the Vermilion Parish Police Jury, but has in the past spent some of his time each month assisting with trapping efforts in Acadia Parish.

A number of calls recently have been specifically about beaver and the dams they build which stop the flow of water and subsequently cause issues for the local drainage districts.

“In recent months there have been some questions about beaver dam removal,” Dwight LeBlanc of the USDA stated.

“In the past we have brought in a certified trapper, trained in explosives, but it is very expensive. What Hank does is when he is out there; he breaches the dam so the water can flow.”

LeBlanc explained that either method of ridding the waterway of the dam is only temporary and if or when another beaver comes along it will quickly rebuild the dam.

“What would be the possibility of having a full-time trapper in Vermilion?” Juror Errol Domingues asked.

“Since the hurricane, in the north of the parish we’ve been experiencing more incidents. Our problems are spreading,” he added.

“If there is a need for a full-time trapper, Hank and I can sit down and figure out how we can make it work,” LeBlanc stated.

Jury President Gerald Butaud asked Atkins whether or not he thought that he could stay busy if he worked exclusively in Vermilion Parish.

“If I can stay in the area, I think I could get the job done quicker,” Atkins answered.

“Last year, in Forked Island I don’t think I had one call in twelve months and this year I ‘ve already had several calls. It has become more busy.”

“There’s plenty of work, I think,” Butaud said.

The matter will be assessed and brought back before the jury for final decision.