New five-year period
Protecting agricultural crops, limiting flood risk associated with the collapse of riverbanks, and safeguarding biodiversity and natural habitats. These are the main objectives of the new nutria control plan, approved by the Emilia Romagna region and valid for the five-year period 2026-2030. This intervention is part of a context of the species' widespread distribution throughout the region and aims to implement structured and coordinated action to limit its impact on the environment, safety, and production activities. The coypu is, in fact, an invasive alien species of EU concern, whose management is aimed at controlling populations and reducing the negative impacts associated with its presence.
The included territory
The new plan strengthens operational tools and the organization of enforcement activities. Its application covers the entire regional territory, including urban areas, parks, and regional protected natural areas. National parks and state reserves are excluded, as specific national provisions apply. Provincial police forces, the body responsible for implementing the plan, are authorized to implement projects that allow the use of .22-caliber rifles and non-reduced air rifles, subject to permission from the Prefecture and the local Police Headquarters.
Simplified procedures
"With this intervention, we are significantly strengthening control efforts across the entire region, making more resources available, simplifying procedures, and improving coordination among the stakeholders," said Regional Councilor for Agriculture Alessio Mammi. "The sampling data confirms that we are headed in the right direction, but highlights the need to continue with continuity and greater effectiveness. The spread of the coypu has tangible effects on multiple fronts, from agricultural production to water safety and environmental balance, and requires a structured and consistent response. This is why we are investing in the Provincial Police Force, strengthening operational tools, and consolidating collaboration with local authorities, operators, and all stakeholders involved in control activities, with the aim of limiting the impact and ensuring more effective management across the region. Given the excellent results achieved in the areas that have introduced the use of the .22 caliber rifle and the non-reduced air rifle, we have decided to include their use in the new plan as well; therefore, the Provincial Police Force will be able to introduce such equipment after receiving authorization from the Prefecture and Police Headquarters".
The 2026-2030 control plan
The new plan allows for interventions throughout the Emilia-Romagna region, including urban areas, parks, and regional protected natural areas, while specific restrictions apply to Natura 2000 network sites. National parks and state reserves are excluded, for which national regulations apply. The plan defines a system of intervention tailored to different territorial contexts, balancing operational effectiveness and environmental protection. In urban areas, interventions are managed by municipalities; in huntable areas, activities can take place year-round, even in conjunction with hunting. Among the operational tools, in addition to those already established by law, the possibility of using technologies and equipment that allow for more effective and selective interventions is confirmed, in compliance with required authorizations and safety conditions. The possibility of using alternative weapons, such as the .22 caliber rifle and the fully depowered air rifle, is also confirmed, once authorization has been obtained from the provincial police force by the competent territorial Prefecture.
The results of the last year
Simplifications have also been introduced in the reporting procedures for control activities, with the aim of streamlining and streamlining the procedures for provincial police forces. Collection and killing are permitted only to authorized and trained individuals and are carried out under the coordination of the local provincial police forces and the Metropolitan City of Bologna, which ensure the organization and oversight of the activities. Institutional operators, game wardens, licensed hunters, owners or managers of agricultural land, specialized companies, and, in some cases, even public health veterinary staff may participate. Over the past ten years, starting in 2016, when the first regional plan for coypu control was approved, 856.093 coypu have been collected in Emilia-Romagna. Of these 101.175 heads were collected in 2025, an increase compared to previous years, distributed by province as follows: 12.412 in the province of Bologna, 46.623 in Ferrara, 615 in Forlì-Cesena, 22.276 in Modena, 2.865 in Parma, 375 in Piacenza, 4.590 in Ravenna, 11.378 in Reggio Emilia and 41 in Rimini (source: Emilia Romagna Region).
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