Tomaszcz

Nutria

Not so long ago I felt it was time for me to go pay a visit to the beavers again, while I failed to see them I stumbled upon another semi aquatic mammal. One that I had already seen in the area but not in this size or number.

1 adult and around 10 little ones swimming around. At some point I even got surrounded by them 🫪

Imported into Europe for their fur, coypu have ended up in the wild and have been classified as an invasive species. Unlike beavers, which are perfectly integrated into the ecosystem, nutrias – which have virtually no natural predators here – tend to breed throughout the year and see their populations grow, particularly with mild winters with low mortality rates, to the detriment of the local flora, and the species that depend on it.

However, this species is here to stay, despite efforts to eradicate it. And although the harmful effects are well documented – as with many other so-called exotic species – a policy of coexistence seems to be the most effective path to follow as well as waiting for the species to become an integral part of the wildlife food chain in Europe.

#nutria #coypu #ragondin #hódpatkany