Northern water boards extend cooperation on muskrat and coypu control
The Noorderzijlvest, Hunze en Aa’s, Drents Overijsselse Delta, and Vechtstromen water boards are extending their mutual cooperation in the field of muskrat and coypu control. To this end, they signed the ‘Cooperation Agreement on Muskrat and Coypu Control between the Water Boards of Drenthe, Groningen, and Overijssel’.
Collaboration
The participating water boards are satisfied with the collaboration. Coordination takes place at the administrative level, experience and knowledge are exchanged, and joint search operations are organized. The common goal is to reduce the population of muskrats and beavers. And that has been successful, as figures from recent years show. The previous agreement expired in 2022. The new period runs until January 1, 2033.
Damage to dikes
Muskrats and coypu are not native to the Netherlands; they have been introduced here by humans. These animals also have few natural predators in our country. They are controlled because they cause damage to dikes, quays, and riverbanks by digging burrows and tunnels. They also build nesting chambers with extensive underground tunnel systems.
Threat to biodiversity
Muskrats and coypu also pose a threat to biodiversity. Both animals are therefore included on the European list of invasive species. They eat plants such as reeds and cattails, thereby displacing native species such as the black tern, the bittern, and the reed warbler. These birds live in the reeds, which are also the habitat of muskrats and coypu.
Reduce to national border
The control of muskrats and coypu is regulated by law in our country. The aim is to keep the population as small as possible so that damage can be managed. The ultimate goal is to reduce both muskrat and coypu populations to the national border. The aim is that by 2034 there will no longer be a viable population in the interior of the Netherlands.
More information
Water boards combat muskrats and coypu. They do not fit into our water system.
