AN IMPORTED PEST

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3783, 17 July 1936, Page 3

AN IMPORTED PEST

THE MUSK RAT IN SCOTLAND. The story of the musk rat campaign in Scotland reads like a page from sensational fiction. The animal, which is a native of the frozen wastes of North America, belongs to the beaver family, is four times the size of an ordinary fullgrown rat, has powerfully equipped claws, and is rarely seen by day. In addition it is a water-loving rodent, and has its entrance burrow usually below the water-line. Except to trained observers, of which there was none in Scotland when the alarm was first raised, the animal is most diflicult to locate; there may be many musk rats in a small area without any evidence of their presence being manifest to the casual observer. .

The principal indictment against the musk rat is its amazing burrowing proclivities, which have led in Germany and Czechoslovakia, where the situation has for many years been serious, to the collapse of river embankments, the bursting of dams, and consequent serious flooding. In addition to the depredations mentioned, the musk tat, being an expert swimmer, is always a menace to trout hatcheries.

The trouble began in Scotland in 1927, when musquash were introduced from Canada to a ranch which had been set up near to Fiddal, in central Perthshire. The owner was proposing to breed the animals for their valuable pelts. In that year three males and five females escaped, and of their progeny over 1100 have been killed to date.

Constant reports were received by the authorities during the years subsequent to 1927 of strange animals being seen many miles distant from the original habitat. Carsbreck was seriously infested, and great damage was done to the embankments. Legislation was introduced in the year 1932, but the rodents had five years’ start, and apparently were at large in considerable numbers. Official trappers were appointed, and by arrangement Herr Roith, the most expert of the German trapping staff, came across to train the men. His methods were amazing in their ingenuity, and our men were quick to profit by his skilled guidance. The staff was increased from time to time, and extensive surveying operations established beyond question that the infestation was confined to the central and southern districts of Perthshire and North Stirlingshire. In the year 1933 754 musk rats were captured; in 1934 the recorded captures fell to 152; and in 1935 the number was only 10, in addition which two were killed by private persons. Allowing for "private” captures, over 1100 musquash have been destroyed during the period. These figures, with their progressive decline, prove conclusively that the menace has beer, overcome, and it appears that only a few stragglers remain which, it is hoped, will be rounded up shortly. The achievement is meritorious, having regard to the immense difficulties to be overcome, and reflects credit on the authorities, particularly those engaged in field work operations.—F.P. in the Weekly Scotsman.