Nutria cause flood risk – hunters sound the alarm!

Nutria cause flood risk – hunters sound the alarm!

In Lower Saxony there is an alarming problem with the invasive species of nutria, also known as the beaver rat. These rodents, which originally come from South America, cause massive damage to the dykes of the North Sea. Hunters report a rapid increase in their populations, with a record-breaking 44,961 nutrias being shot in the 2023/2024 hunting year. Nevertheless, hunters like Manuel Janssen, who hunts these animals every day, are faced with a challenging situation. The animals are extremely dangerous, especially for dogs, as their sharp teeth can cause serious injuries. Janssen himself recently shot three specimens during an operation at the “Krummes Tief” in Ihlow, where the damage caused by the rodents is becoming increasingly obvious Bild.de reported.

The worrying increase in the nutria population is fueled by climate change and mild winters, leading to an explosive increase in their reproductive rate. These circumstances have led hunters to vehemently oppose the demand to remove the nutria from hunting rights. Lower Saxony's Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte from the Green Party is planning to enforce this, which is met with resistance from both hunters and dike protection associations. Dr. Hansjörg Heeren from the Frisian Association for Nature Conservation warns that the nutria are the only increasing threat to the dikes, as they can destabilize their structure by digging burrows. In the event of a disaster, this could lead to a rapid breach of the dike, which would have serious consequences. Loud Hunter's Magazine The number of nutrias killed has increased more than sixfold in the last six years, which is a serious sign of the need for action.

Hunting strategies for nutrias range from trapping methods to targeted hunting, using fruits and vegetables to attract them. However, the use of meat remains a controversial topic. While nutria are traditionally considered a delicacy in their homeland, their meat plays a subordinate role in Germany. Experts emphasize the need not only to kill these animals, but also to use them sensibly. The hunters' group discusses how the nutria population can be successfully reduced without endangering the ecological balance in the long term.