This is one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species. Is just attacking Krakow
In Krakow, a species included in one of the 100 most invasive in the world. I am talking about nutria, which not only cause great damage, but can also carry dangerous diseases.
The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Krakow plans to catch Nutria. This species dangerously reproduces in the area of one of the urban water reservoirs. He is known for destroying the banks, there, dams and earth embankments, which leads to local flooding or damage to road infrastructure.
Cracow. Nutrie can become a problem
“The population of nutria in one of the water reservoirs in Krakow was estimated at several individuals. Employees of the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Krakow began their first remedial activities on November 8, 2024 with a local vision and inventory of Nutria’s living places, “said the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Krakow.
“On this basis, the area of implementation of activities and the approximate number of the local population were determined. Currently, we are preparing to order these animals from the environment (work is underway in the field of: arrangements with the owner of the reservoir and with the City of Krakow, launching educational meetings for society and obtaining financial resources to carry out marks) ” – officials explained.
“According to the law, after being caught from the environment, these animals must be transferred to the center or asylum with the appropriate permit of the General Director of Environmental Protection or become humanitarianly killed,” said RDOŚ.
Why are nutrie dangerous?
Nutrie is rodents with a potato lifestyle. They are herbivorous and usually live in groups of 2-13 individuals. Under appropriate conditions, they can reproduce throughout the year, and a 4.5-month pregnancy usually ends with 2 to 9 young people, which are sexually mature after 3-10 months. This shows how quickly this species can multiply in an uncontrolled way.
Unfortunately, nutries can be carriers of about 30 pathogens and parasites. They transfer diseases such as toxoplasmosis or tuberculosis. Productors, nematodes, liver motil and hair can feed on their body.
Interestingly, this is not a species naturally found in Poland. RDOŚ reminded that nutria breeding in Poland only dates back to the 1920s. The first individuals were imported from Argentina, and at the turn of the 1970s and 80s Poland was the world’s largest producer of nutria skins from cage farming.
How did Nutria go to the natural environment? By neglecting people, leading to escape from breeding, and sometimes by deliberately releasing these animals from farms. With mild winters, the development of Nutria can quickly threaten Polish ecosystems. Nutrie as an invasive species are exterminated, among others in Italy, France or Great Britain.
