An Aug. 16 deadline for commenting on a South Dakota Game Fish & Parks’ proposal that would create a trapping season for river otters is drawing both support and scorn for the idea.

The proposal to alter the state river otter management plan to allow trapping comes after the Game Fish & Parks Commission voted in May to remove the river otter from the state’s threatened species list, where it had been since 1978 when South Dakota first compiled a list of threatened mammals.

The decision to remove the otter was supported by trappers, including South Dakota Trappers Association President John Hopple, who argued that removing the river otter as a threatened mammal would give Game Fish & Parks flexibility to manage the species.

“Based on their decisions after this action, the river otter will continue to flourish and expand its…