The muskrat and the coypu are invasive species, which means that they do not naturally belong in the Netherlands. However, they are present and they cause a lot of damage to the dikes and waterways in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, among other places. That is why these animals must be controlled. The muskrats are caught alive and this is a time consuming activity.

Current traps used to capture muskrats should be inspected every 24 hours (in the Netherlands). This is because other (protected) animals can also be trapped and it is important that these animals are released as soon as possible. Robor Nature developed the smart cage. The smart cage works with a detection system that filters different animal species. As a result, the door of the cage only closes when a muskrat or coypu detected. The door remains open for all other animals.