Nutrias on the rise: Danger for people in MV!

Nutrias on the rise: Danger for people in MV!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the rapid spread of nutrias is a topic of conversation. The animals known as water rats or swamp beavers have seen significant population growth in recent years. In 2025, 4,037 nutrias were killed, whereas around ten years ago there were only 143. This corresponds to an increase of 46.8 percent in just two years, as n-tv reports.

The high density of this animal species is particularly evident in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, with 2,868 individuals shot. But 934 nutrias were also killed in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, while in Rostock and the Vorpommern-Rügen district there have been no killing successes since 2017. The Ministry of the Environment has already documented 348 discovery points in the region by 2023, which represents a significant increase of 60 points since 2018. One reason for the lack of hunting in certain areas could be the lack of opportunity to do so, as shown by local conditions, notes ndr.

Dangers and damage caused by nutrias

It's not just the increase in population that is worrying. Nutrias pose a serious risk to people and the environment. Through their digging, they undermine embankments, dams and dikes, which endangers stability. It happens again and again that vehicles or pedestrians break into the undermined embankments. The risk of injury increases noticeably, especially for the unwary. They also cause lasting damage to the riparian vegetation and sediment input, which alarms the nature-loving residents of the region.

The nutria is an invasive species that not only puts pressure on the native flora, but also threatens other animal species. Weighing up to 10 kilograms and measuring up to 65 centimeters in length, these animals give birth to four to seven young once or twice a year, causing their population to rise rapidly. The discussion about how to deal with such invasive species is not new, and the German Hunting Association (DJV) emphasizes the need to hunt these animals to ensure species protection. In fact, over 100,000 nutrias were killed nationwide in the 2020/2021 hunting season, which shows how seriously the problem is taken.

Public discussion and management

The excitement about nutria is part of a broader discussion about invasive species in Germany. NABU calls for measures that also take non-hunting methods into account to manage the population of these animals. Birte Brechlin from NABU points out that permanent wildlife management is necessary to combat the causes of their spread and to respond to changing circumstances. Finally, other invasive species, such as the Egyptian goose or the raccoon, also have an impact on local ecosystems, which underlines the need for a differentiated view, as can be read on nationalgeographic.de.

The citizens of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are called upon to take the issue seriously and to recognize the dangers posed by nutrias. Hunting of these animals has been permitted since 2017 and is seen by many as a sensible measure. But opinions are divided on how best to deal with invasive species. It therefore remains to be seen what strategies those responsible will develop to ensure a safe living space in the future.

For further details on the nutrias and their impact on the region, we recommend taking a look at the reporting from n-tv, ndr and nationalgeographic.de.