ISLANDERS are being encouraged to report any sightings of a mysterious rodent that was spotted in Rozel earlier this week.
The rodent, which looks like a large rat and is believed to be a coypu, is a non-native, invasive species.
The government’s Natural Environment team has asked Islanders not to approach the animal, but report sightings on 01534 441674.
Described as a ‘ginormous rat’ similar in size to a cat by the Islander who reportedly came across it, the animal was seen on Route du Côtes du Nord.
Daniel Bryant said that it ‘came towards me hissing’ after he tried – unsuccessfully – to get a photo, although he added that this behaviour may have been out of self-defence.
The coypu originated in South America and was later introduced to France and parts of the UK, primarily by fur farmers.
It is not a complete stranger to the Island’s shores, although the last sighting, in 2020, was of a long-deceased one in St Ouen’s Bay.
Others have been reported dead on the east coast.
Out of office hours, the Natural Environment duty officer can be contacted on 01534 441617.
