Oregon regulations are established to ensure humane treatment of furbearers. In 1998, Oregon licensed 847 furtakers and 799 fur hunters. Estimated harvest levels and associated harvest revenues for 1997-1998 are shown below. Beaver can dam culverts causing damage to roadways and dikes, damage or destroy fruit and ornamental tress and flood valuable crop and pasturelands. Raccoons can damage homes and buildings by tearing off shingles or siding to gain entry into an attic or wall space.
Raccoons can also damage gardens and agricultural crops.
Opossums burrow and nest under houses or in garages, rummaging through garbage cans and harassing pets. Nutria can damage agricultural crops and destroy water-retaining structures like dams and dikes. Without control, muskrats can completely destroy the vegetation in a marsh, making it uninhabitable as a nesting and feeding area for waterfowl and shorebirds. Predation River otter, mink, raccoon, pine marten, skunk, weasel, fox, bobcat and coyote are carnivores that prey on both domestic and wildlife animals. Raccoon, skunk and opossum are nest destructors, taking the eggs of any species found.