“We immediately develop a timeline within the regional coordination table aimed at implementing the operational plans of containment of nutria". This is the request made by Cia of Rovigo on the occasion of a specific meeting organized in recent days by agri-environment management planning and management of fish and wildlife-hunting in the Veneto Region, together with agricultural organizations and hunting associations. "In the current historical context - underlines the director of Cia Rovigo, Paul Franceschetti - we are not always able to give concrete answers to this great criticality, namely the massive presence of otters in our territory: the situation is out of control, there are over 200 thousand throughout the Polesine.
The estimate, however, is on the downside ". Reason why, adds the director himself, "we strongly support the launch of the initiative, provided that precise timing is given with respect to the containment of the specimens". And there is a further question to consider: “Institutions are called to divide the tasks in a timely manner, so that there are no overlaps. It must be clear who does what. In this sense, the only objective is represented by the containment of these animals, for the good of the world of agriculture and civil society ". Only 10% of the damage in agriculture is then reimbursed, remembers Cia Rovigo: "The issue of business profitability also arises".
"It will be essential to involve the university world in the program, science can give us useful indications regarding the procedure to follow - analyzes Franceschetti - a modus operandi that could give excellent feedback, for example, is represented by sterilization". With regard to the drafting of the program, in reality, a basis on which to set up the work already exists: it is the National Management Plan of the nutria. "In the document, prepared by the ministry of the environment and Ispra the methods of intervention aimed at containing the otters themselves are summarized ". Among these, in vivo capture using cages or traps is the most suitable: meets the requirements of good selectivity, efficacy and reduced noise.
However, once activated, the cages must be checked by authorized staff once a day in the autumn and winter months, and twice a day in the warmer months. There is also the possibility of direct shooting with a firearm, always by selected titled controllers. “In parallel with the eradication interventions - continues the director - rapid alert systems must be launched in the event of new colonizations”.