Nutria flood threatens Görlitz: Hunters sound the alarm!

Nutria flood threatens Görlitz: Hunters sound the alarm!

A particularly striking phenomenon is currently being observed in the Görlitz district: the number of nutria, also known as swamp beavers, is increasing significantly. While there are no official counts of population density, hunters' kills show a clear trend towards an increase in the number of animals. In the 2022/2023 hunting year, 92 nutrias have already been shot, with three being registered as fallen game Sächsische.de reported. This increase is particularly visible in urban areas of Görlitz, causing concern among residents.

The nutria, which came to the country over 100 years ago, were originally bred for fur farms. After the fall of communism, sales figures fell significantly, which led to many animals either being released illegally or escaping from their enclosures. This development, coupled with mild winters, meant that the nutrias were able to reproduce unhindered. Even district office spokeswoman Melanie Rohn emphasizes that an exact territorial assessment of the occurrence is difficult.

The spread of the nutria

The invasive species is not only spreading in Görlitz. Loud Jagdverband.de The occurrence of nutria in German hunting grounds more than doubled from 2015 to 2021. In 2023, the animals were documented in over a third of the participant hunting grounds. The number of sightings and shootings has increased dramatically, particularly in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. While food consumption is considered harmful to the local flora, the negative effects on flood protection and species protection should not be underestimated.

Nutrias undermine river banks and dikes, not only endangering human settlements but also destroying habitats for many other species. An existing problem is also evident in the reed belts, which are of essential importance for birds and amphibians. In addition, the hunting of these animals is highly regulated, which is why a uniform approach creates supra-regional difficulties.

The influence of urbanization

Another problem is the urbanization of the nutria. Unauthorized feeding and climatic advantages help the animals feel comfortable even in urban areas. Pirsch.de highlights that mapping wildlife populations in cities increases the challenge of establishing effective management of the species. The question remains how the Görlitz district will react to this worrying increase.

It remains to be seen whether those responsible in the district will position themselves more clearly and take appropriate measures to combat the nutria flood. Time is of the essence, because one thing is clear: the challenge of invasive swamp beavers will continue to cause headaches for local authorities for some time to come.