Maine § 12404. - Specific animals

§ 12404.. Specific animals

1.  Bear.  This subsection applies to the taking or killing of bear found doing damage.

A. Section 12402 does not prohibit the taking or killing of bear found doing damage to blueberry land.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. The commissioner may issue a permit to any licensed beekeeper, or to a person entrusted with the custody of the beehives of a licensed beekeeper, authorizing that person to protect beehives from damage by bear.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

C. The commissioner may suspend the game laws relating to bears in such restricted localities and for such periods of time as the commissioner finds it advisable to relieve excessive damage being done by bears to sweet corn or other crops.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

D. The commissioner may suspend subsection 6 for the purpose of allowing dogs to be used in hunting and killing bears, providing the dogs are under the personal supervision of the owner at all times, for such periods of time as the commissioner finds it advisable.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

2.  Beaver.  Except as provided in paragraph A, a person may not take or kill beaver under sections 12401 and 12402.

A. In accordance with section 10105, subsection 1, the commissioner may at any time authorize a landowner, a person on behalf of the landowner or an agent of the department to take or kill nuisance beaver.   [PL 2021, c. 60, §1 (NEW).]

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.  

3.  Birds.  A person may not take or kill wild birds, with the exception of English or European house sparrows, European starlings, rock pigeons, also known as rock doves, and wild turkeys under sections 12401 and 12402.

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.  

4.  Coyotes.  The commissioner may cause department personnel to take coyotes at any time and in any manner that the commissioner may prescribe.

5.  Deer.  This subsection applies to the control of nuisance deer in orchards and crops.

A. Whenever deer are doing damage to orchards and crops, including legumes, but excepting grass, the department shall furnish to the owner or agent of the orchards and crops suitable repellants without cost to the owner or agent. The commissioner may follow other good conservation practices to alleviate the damage.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. Whenever the commissioner determines it impossible to keep deer from doing damage to young orchards, the commissioner may enter into an agreement with the owner of a young orchard in which the department assumes 1/2 the cost of fencing the orchard.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

6.  Dogs.  This subsection applies to nuisance dogs.

A. A game warden may kill a dog outside the enclosure or immediate care of its owner or keeper when the game warden finds that dog: