PIERRE, S.D. – Some members of South Dakota’s wildlife community have told Governor Kristi Noem she could spend the money more effectively, but she’s pushing ahead with her new bounty program that began Monday.

It will pay people for trapping predators that raid nests of waterfowl and upland game birds.

To collect $10, a trapper must present the tailbone and entire tail of a raccoon, striped skunk, badger, opossum or red fox at a state Game, Fish and Parks Department regional wildlife office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.

People also can make individual arrangements for collecting bounties by contacting a GFP wildlife conservation officer or wildlife damage specialist from the list online. Phone numbers are also listed in the current version of the GFP hunting and trapping handbook.

The bounty program is scheduled to run through August 31…