PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — North American river otters won’t be on South Dakota’s list of threatened species any longer, the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission decided Thursday.

Commissioners agreed 8-0 with the recommendation (page 59) from the state Game, Fish and Parks Department. They also voted 8-0 to allow trapping of river otters.

Earlier the commission held a public hearing that drew people opposed to the change. One man called it “insane.”

Several people said the populations — estimated in the 40s in recent years — were too sparse to allow de-listing.

The commission agreed to let trappers to take 15 river otters (page 46), with one apiece per licensed resident trapper per season.

State wildlife program administrator Chad Switzer said “a lot of staff time” went into the proposal. He said any trapper who caught more than one…