Unwanted nutria spotted several times on Rømø

A nutria has been seen several times in a short period on Rømø, prompting concern from the Wadden Sea National Park and local dike officials.

The species is considered invasive and unwanted in Danish nature because it digs into dikes and banks. Morten Sextus, the dike supervisor for Juvre Dike Association on Rømø, said the animal’s digging could destabilize the dikes. He said he had spoken with the national park’s predation coordinator about finding it.

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It simply cannot be allowed to dig into the dikes and thereby make them unstable.

The national park asked anyone who spots the nutria to contact coordinator Torben Wollesen. He coordinates about 60 volunteer hunters who work to limit invasive species such as raccoon dogs and mink on Rømø.

Wollesen said the task is difficult because the Wadden Sea lies so close to Germany. Species including raccoon dogs and nutria spread into Denmark from there. A nutria was also spotted in Odense Fjord at the end of August, and experts assessed that it might have arrived from Germany, where both wild and captive nutrias are found.

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It is a major task.