They resume after a few weeks off catches and killing of otters throughout the province of Verona. With the entry into force of the new regional control plan for nutria, approved in recent days by the Venetian council, farmers can start placing the traps they have on loan and direct killing can also resume, under the control of the Organizational Units Coordinating fish and wildlife hunting management present in each province. A measure awaited for weeks by agricultural entrepreneurs after the expiry of the old containment program of the last 30nd June.
In this period it was only possible to report to the provincial police the passage and damage caused by wild animals that have now colonized the countryside. In search of water and food, the otters have raided the fields and vegetable gardens creating tunnels along the embankments with the high hydraulic risk and the fragility of the soil that causes collapses, with extensive landslides along the waterways, also endangering the work with vehicles. The new plan will remain in effect until 31 December 2025 and largely resumes the previous provision, without prejudice to the new implementation competence entrusted no longer to the Provinces, given the suppression of the provincial hunting and fishing services, but to the Organizational Units Coordination of fish and wildlife hunting management dependent on the Veneto Region.
As regards the methods of intervention, the preference for capturing by means of trap cages is confirmed, entrusted to the owners and conductors of the funds on loan, specially trained, with the possibility for them to proceed directly to the suppression of the head, even if without a firearm license, through compressed air devices with a power not exceeding 7.5 Joules. The possibility of disposing of captured and slaughtered animals directly in the field remains confirmed, within the limit of 10 heads per hectare and per day, after burial. Furthermore, it is possible to shoot directly with a firearm, all year round and even at night (in this case a high visibility vest must be worn), by the owner who is the owner of the funds, in possession of a hunting license and suitable insurance, if specially trained.
This possibility of intervention is however subject to the coordination of the provincial police services. If the felled animal is not easily recoverable, it can be left on site (for example in a canal), due to the fact that the transmissibility of infectious diseases to humans and animals is not proven. Finally, with respect to the need to make the nutria control activity more pervasive, Coldiretti Veneto points out that, within the framework of the Plan, forms of incentive for culling activities must be envisaged, as part of the Regional working table specially constituted for the most problematic species to be controlled, namely wild boar and nutria.
“The Plan does not deal with these economic aspects but we expect, and will propose to the regional table, support interventions capable of strengthening the implementation of the capture and killing activities. The commitment required of the farmer with the installation and control of traps is not irrelevant, in terms of time. Furthermore, for the part that concerns the killing through capture or direct shooting, at least the living costs must be recognized at the voluntary staff, such as specially trained hunters "(Coldiretti Verona).