nectarine Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 We have a large pond and there's always been a coypu in there. Despite having the chasse place a trap, for some months, the coypu has always evaded it. The banks of our pond are riddled with holes so it's been a longstanding mission to get rid of it.Now the other evening I looked out and saw the coypu with ... and I couldn't believe my eyes, eleven babies. They were wriggling across the grass while she was munching away so hubby ran out with an air rifle and shot one of the babies at point blank range while the others ran away. (At this point please don't shout because we killed the baby ... what else can you do? It's illegal to transport them and at least it was an instant death, but it gave us no pleasure!). So there's ten rapidly growing baby coypus out there somewhere.Now the air rifle is only effective if you are close up, which may not be possible again. I could ask the chasse to bring down a trap again to see if the babies go in but it would be one at a time, and that's time consuming.Any ideas please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pommier Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I found this information on line - don't know how easy they'd be to source though! (and what is a gar?) Their primary predators in the wild are alligators, turtles, gars, large snakes, birds of prey, and to a small extent now, humans (for fur or meat). They are nocturnal and thus may not be easily preyed upon by daytime predators. Their lifespan is approximately six years over which time the amount of offspring produced is tremendous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 So, get an alligator or an MIL with big teeth!![6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Delightful creatures to watch - provided they keep to someone else's property, of course.The French name for them is ragondins, although they generally seem to refer to them as rats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 thank you both ... I'm not sure where I would get an alligator from and it would certainly make my daily walk around the lake both exciting and unpredictable! Mr. Nectarine suggests if someone has a shotgun it would take out several babies and perhaps the mother in one go. I really don't like to kill animals but it's got to be done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I think the chasse is your only legal option. They will probably (or should) dispatch the captive animal in the cage so no transportation is necessary. Bear in mind that if Mr N has not got his own licence to chasse (he's passed his exam etc) then it's illegal for him to be shooting anything. I don't suppose anyone locally will care but...Ensure your chasse doesn't put poison down for them - can be a very painful and drawn-out death and indiscriminate in what it kills. Can you scare them off? We have a couple of visiting ragondin for a few weeks each spring but they seem to object to us tramping round the pond so they eat some of the surrouding foliage, renovate a few existing holes and then disappear again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 Be a bit careful if she is full grown, big, and you have a dog. They have been known to attack and kill dogs when approached and cornered.They are vermin and cause a boat load of damage to river and canal banks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 [quote user="Catalpa"]Can you scare them off? [/quote]Des O'Connor's Greatest Hits on continuous play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 heh heh it's very tempting ... we shot another one last night, and were shocked to see how big the babies have grown in just a few days. I think the chasse is our only option although Mr. N. intends to sit down at dusk with his airgun. Thanks for all suggestions .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwmcn Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 Nectarine,The French will eat anything. Give it a try Autumn Leave: A Season in France - Google Books Resultbooks.google.co.uk/books?isbn=185078910XMichele Guinness - 2009 - TravelCoypu soup. Coypu stuffing. Traditional English Roast Coypu? Coypu flapjack.' Now that'sdrawing a line. Still no signofour Atlaswardrobe. 'Ah yes,Madame, I ... David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 Well a quick Google search found this egg roll recipe (Americans call them 'nutria' not coypu)NUTRIA, WILD BOAR, AND CRAWFISH EGG ROLL TOWERSWhat’s not to love about this recipe, which calls for not one but three invaders?Makes 20 egg rolls2 1/2 pounds ground nutria1/2 pound ground wild boar1/2 pound crawfish tails, chopped fine1/2 cup water chestnuts, chopped1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, chopped1/4 cup sliced green onions11/2 tablespoons Thai-style seasoning20 egg roll wrappers1 egg, beatenPeanut oil for deep-frying1. In a large bowl, mix the nutria, wild boar, crawfish, water chestnuts, mushrooms, onions, and Thai seasoning. Brown the mixture in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.2. Remove from the heat, drain, and cool.3. Place 2 ounces of the mixture in each egg roll wrapper. Follow directions on the wrapper package for rolling and sealing the egg rolls.4. Pour 3 inches of oil into a heavy, deep saucepan. Heat the oil to 350 degrees. Fry the egg rolls until golden brown.5. Place three egg rolls in another wrapper and brush the edges of the wrapper with the beaten egg. Fold the edges over to create a bundle. Repeat until you have used up all the egg rolls. Fry the bundles until golden brown.6. Slice open each bundle across the top on the bias. Place the egg rolls upright on a plate and serve with a sweet and spicy sauce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 The names have several derivations, they were called nutria in the UK in the 60's when people were encouraged to raise them for their fur (of the same name). Many were turned loose when the bottom fell out of the market, together with mink, for the same reason.What is the bore size of your husband's "airgun", please? Legal air rifles we have owned were not capable of killing anything bigger than a small mouse.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 It's a normal air rifle, nothing added and entirely legal. But we have a hideyhole in the garden and the coypu are on the grass, so he can stun from a short distance, then at point blank range to despatch . But I think we will give in and get the chasse ... they have the equipment and maybe will lend us a cage or find some way to despatch them ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwmcn Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 nectarine,Yes, we Americans eat nutria all the time. Very nutritious...David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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