Drainage channels under pressure from invasive animal species: investigation on the regional and local impact of Coypu (Myocastor coypus) damages

The distribution of the Coypu (Myocastor coypus) in Italy and other countries of the world makes it one of the most invasive species in the world. Numerous studies have established the effects of this invasive species on various ecosystems. Despite the induced criticalities, the available information about damages to riverbanks is mostly limited to local knowledge and maintenance reports, and eroded volumes remain rarely quantified. This study concerns an analysis of the distribution of the Coypu in Veneto (Northern Italy), an area where recent reports suggest a drastic expansion of the animal, to the point of raising bitter encounters between farmers, conservationists, landowners, and politicians.