If you were to be seen out and about wearing a fur coat in far-off days… well, you were the bees-knees.

But not everyone could afford a mink coat.

So in the 1920s the South American swamp beaver, or nutria, was brought to this country by furriers so more people could afford to prance about in fur coats.

Eastern Daily Press: Coypu were found across Norfolk and Suffolk in the 1960s and 70s. These two men are laying traps to catch them at Wheatfen Broad.Coypu were found across Norfolk and Suffolk in the 1960s and 70s. These two men are laying traps to catch them at Wheatfen Broad. (Image: Newsquest)

Eastern Daily Press: A Campaign Against Coypu poster from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food. A Campaign Against Coypu poster from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food. (Image: Newsquest)

It was a mistake which cost millions of pounds and posed a serious threat to agriculture and waterways across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The creature was the Coypu and many of you will remember it well.

It’s not the sort of name you forget.

They arrived in East Anglia and it is thought there were about 40 farms operating by the late 1930s when the coats became the height of fashion.

Eastern Daily Press: A newspaper clipping from 1938 showing a nutria farm at East Carleton. A newspaper clipping from 1938 showing a nutria farm at East Carleton. (Image: Newsquest)

Then times changed, the Second World War arrived, and the Coypu began to escape from the farms, causing enormous damage. Eating root crops and breaking through river banks resulting in flooding.

Our surroundings were an ideal breeding ground for the rampaging Coypu who continued to cause devastation. The Government stepped in to launch a trapping campaign in the 1960s and Coypu Control began in 1971.

Eastern Daily Press: Police kill a coypu in a churchyard in Norwich. Dated 21 December 1959Police kill a coypu in a churchyard in Norwich. Dated 21 December 1959 (Image: Library image)

Thought to be the only female trapper was Jennie Crohill, of Norfolk who worked with the Coypu Research Laboratory from 1979.

Armed with a gun and accompanied by her dog Toby she was known and loved as “that old gal and that dawg.”

Another trapper was Ivan Watts who recalled: “We operated in an area stretching from the north of Thames to Humberside. An area covered by 24 trappers.

Eastern Daily Press: Ivan Watts in the old Coypu Control Boat. He gives us the lowdown on his job in the book Water, Mills, Marshes: Life and Work on the Broads by the WISEArchive. Ivan Watts in the old Coypu Control Boat. He gives us the lowdown on his job in the book Water, Mills, Marshes: Life and Work on the Broads by the WISEArchive. (Image: Family Collection)

“We had a leaky boat with no buoyancy aids and I often worked solo; managing the boat, sorting out the traps and trying to catch coypu. When I think back, I think what a mad thing to do,” said Ivan.

At the beginning of the 1980s the campaign to wipe out the creatures was over. The trappers were reported to have caught around 34,000 of them.

Look out for the book Water Mills Marshes: Life and Work on the Broads (1920-2020), by WISEArchive, published by Bittern Books in 2021, for the full story and many more. It is a wonderful and fascinating read.

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Eastern Daily Press: A coypu control patrol boat at an unknown date.A coypu control patrol boat at an unknown date. (Image: Newsquest)