Study on the presence and perception of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina, 1782) in three areas of Lazio region (Italy)

The coypu (Myocastor coypus) is native of sub Patagonian region, the temperate areas of Chile and Argentina. In Italy the first animals were introduced in 1928 for farming for fur production. Released and escaped coypu have altered the ecosystems colonized and impacted on agriculture and they are now considered as an invasive species. Three study areas were chosen in the Lazio region. The first area was a protected natural reserve characterised by extensive agriculture and backyard farming, the second was characterised by intensive and specialised agriculture, and the third was characterised by intensive agriculture. In order to understand whether there are problems caused by coypu in these areas, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed to 574 farmers/peoples living/working close to the investigated areas, and 389 completed questionnaires were obtained. The results covered the legal status of the species, the problem of damage to crops, and the negative effect on native species, and highlighted that the removal of this invasive species should be accompanied by an information program involving farmers and people living close to areas suitable for coypu.