Fewer and fewer muskrats in our region
In 2022, we caught 32% fewer muskrats than in 2021. That is a significant decrease in the number of catches compared to last year. And that is good news, because it means that we are gaining better control of the population. Catches fell from a total of 1,292 muskrats in 2021 to 882 in 2022. Our goal of ultimately having no muskrats in our region by 2034 is getting closer and closer.
Catching for our safety
We combat muskrats because they damage flood defences riverbanks by dykes burrows and tunnels in dykes . They also build nesting chambers with extensive underground tunnel systems. They can cause subsidence in dykes quays, which we want to prevent.
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 remains manageable.
| Muskrat catches in 2022 compared to 2021 | Catches 2022 | Catches 2021 | difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noorderzijlvest Water Authority | 882 | 1.292 | -32% |
| Drents Overijsselse Delta Water Authority | 1.655 | 1.742 | -5% |
| Hunze & Aa’s Water Authority | 2.350 | 2.313 | 2% |
| Vechtstromen Water Authority | 2.063 | 2.244 | -8% |
| Total Northeast Netherlands | 6.950 | 7.591 | -9% |
Muskrat management
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