THE MUSK-RAT MENACE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I notice that Sir William Beach Thomas devotes part of his article in your issue of the 16th inst. to comment on the menace of the musk-rat. We all know the damage which this animal can do. The fact has been well advertised by the Press during the last few months. Sir William adds, how- ever, the following paragraph, "A newer threat is the nutria, another Air-bearing animal of the otter family, which is doing much damage in France and has been introduced into England."
This paragraph and the intimation of a new threat or menace of danger through the introduction of the nutria into this country is only new in that he says that this animal " is doing much damage in France." During recent months this " new rat menace " story has been widely spread over the country by the Press. Nutria breeders in this country are unaware of any damage done in any country in Europe. In Germany in 1931 there were 200 nutria farms covering 2,000 nutria. Our information is that there is no restriction in Germany on the keeping of nutria and that no reason has arisen to occasion the introduction of any restrictive legislation.
In Austria and Hungary where the breeding of musk-rats is prohibited or controlled similar restrictions in relation to the breeding of Swamp Beavers—and the nutria is a swamp beaver—were under consideration, but these proposals were never made law. In Belgium we are advised by one of the largest breeders in that country that there is no record of any damage done by escaped nutria there and that the idea of any such was scouted. Has Sir William any definite informa- tion as to damage done in France ? If so, we should be grateful for definite information with regard thereto.—I am,
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