Number of captive muskrats rising again

According to the competent commissioner, it has to do with a stricter European directive. You can no longer just catch the animals. You have to put in more work, and that gives the rats more time to reproduce. And meanwhile they destroy the banks of waterways.

“In 2020, about 3,500 muskrats were caught in West Flanders, which is 700 fewer than the year before. This downward trend will continue in 2021. The sudden upsurge, in Diksmuide among others, has to do with the trapping methods. “You are not allowed to place preventive traps everywhere. Only in places where you find nests. So you have to actively track them down,” it sounds.

But don’t panic, it’s all going to be okay. In 2002 28,000 muskrats were caught in West Flanders, now that is almost 10 times less.