Massive hunting numbers: over 7,000 nutrias in Saxony-Anhalt!

Massive hunting numbers: over 7,000 nutrias in Saxony-Anhalt!

The hunting season caused a sensation again in Saxony-Anhalt this year. In the hunting year 2024/25, a total of 7,019 Nutrias were killed. This number is remarkable and shows that the hunt for these animals that come from South America has been operated intensively for many years. For comparison: In 2006 there were only 474 nutrias that were hunting. A clear increase that cannot be overlooked - especially in recent years, where the number of nutrias kept has leveled off at around 7,000. This reports stern.de.

Especially in the north of Saxony-Anhalt, especially in the districts of Stendal and Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, the highest number of hidden nutrias is registered. Over 60% of the animals fall victim to the hunters. This development is not surprising, since Nutrias are multiplying with several throws all year round and are widespread in Saxony-Anhalt, especially along the water and breastfeeding waters. However, conservationists warn of possible damage to sensitive habitats that could arise from an uncontrolled spread of this invasive nature.

The trend towards invasive species

In Germany, the hunt for Nutrias is not only operated in Saxony-Anhalt. In the 2020/21 hunting season, the number of 101,108 nutrias, which was sized, was remarkably exceeded in the entire Federal Republic. This corresponds to an increase around 57 times compared to 20 years ago, according to the German Hunting Association (DJV), which underlines the problem of this invasive species. Nutrias are among the most problematic species worldwide and are classified in Germany as an invasive way that causes damage to water protection insensies and endangered reed belts. Here, too, climate change, which favors mild winter, cannot be underestimated, since it contributes to the spread of these animals, as ljv-sachsen.de.

The hunt for Nutrias is particularly popular, also because over 70% of the copies kept come from North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The hunters therefore have a great interest in controlling invasive types, even if it is not always clearly scientifically understandable whether the hunting actually contributed to nature conservation. According to [wiltierschutz-deutschland.de] (https://www.wildtierschutz-deutschland.de/faktencheck-zur-jagd/invasive species) there is no verifiable reason for the broad hunt for nutrias; The alleged mode of action in relation to reduction or distribution prevention remains questionable.

The challenge of extermination

A central concern remains the question of the need for action. While hunters are called to hunt the Nutria intensively, nature conservation experts see complete extermination as unrealistic. There is only a need for action in cases where concrete ecological or infrastructural damage caused by the animals. So far, no significant damage to flood protection systems or injuries to people is known, which shows that a differentiated view is necessary.

The discussion about Nutrias and other invasive types such as raccoons and marten dogs will remain the order of the day in the future. Your control is a balancing act between nature conservation and hunting interests, in which both ecological and economic factors need to be observed. How the situation in Saxony-Anhalt and beyond will develop remains to be seen.