Instead of being encouraged to win sewing badges and make things out of milk bottle-tops, the girls of Troop 34 have been trained how to trap and skin the rodents — much to the outrage of animal rights activists.

Last spring about ten members of Alaska’s Troop 34 went on a field trip to catch beavers — monogamous yet social creatures that can live up to 20 years — using snares and other lethal traps. After two successful kills, the girls, aged from 10 to 13, were shown how to skin the dead animals, some of which weigh up to 70lb, with knives.

The girls, based in Fairbanks, the second-largest city in the frozen state of Alaska, now plan to tan the skins to make hats and mittens out of them — but only, of course, once they have caught more animals. They are also keen to sample beaver meat.

Stephanie Boyles, of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), said: “It sends a very bad message that when animals cause a problem you kill them.” She added that the scouts should want girls to become “stewards of wildlife, not abusers”.

Experts said that beavers could be pests and needed to be controlled.

The Girl Scouts are looking forward to another trapping trip this month. Their first was organised by Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game, which has a Take a Kid Trapping programme.

Dona Boylan, the Troop 34 leader, said: “Trapping may not be pretty, but the girls understand the seriousness and huge responsibility of taking a life.” No badges were awarded for killing beavers.

Mike McDougall, a trapper who worked with them, said: “These kids are learning more than just how to take an animal. They are learning about ecology. They also got a definite sense of respect for the animals.”

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