Agriculture minister John Osborne has said the government may use air rifles to control the agouti population near heavily farmed areas in Montserrat.
He made the statement during the Montserrat Legislative Assembly meeting on 21 January, in response to a question from opposition member Nyota Mulcare.
Mulcare raised concerns about animals, including agoutis and iguanas, affecting sustainable food production in Montserrat and asked about plans to address the issue.
Osborne explained that the agriculture ministry plans to establish a crop protection team which will partly focus on pest control through trapping, and “in terms of the agoutis, even air rifling”.
He added that Saban black iguanas are a protected species, and Montserrat is one of the last places to house the “original genetic” population.
“So that poses a bit of a problem for us in population control, but we have been discussing within the ministry how to control them,” he said.
Agoutis are medium-sized nocturnal rodents found throughout the Caribbean and Central America, known for their agile movements and large, powerful hind legs.
They are believed to be key contributors to forest regeneration by dispersing seeds, particularly those of large fruits and plants.
Meanwhile, the Saban black iguana, native to the island of Saba and Montserrat, is known for its striking dark coloration and large size. It eats plants, insects and fruits.
