Nutria

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The Nutria is a medium-sized rodent formerly from South America. They were originally brought into Washington for fur farming in the 1930s. Current Nutria populations are located in Western Washington but they are starting to move into Central Washington.

Nutria pose a danger to local ecosystems because they are voracious herbivores that consume the roots of plants thus destroying a much larger percentage of plant life than if they ate the leaves or stalks.

The Washington Invasive Species Council has placed the Nutria on its priority list, further information on the animals, the danger they pose, what they look like, and what you should do if you see one of these animals can be found on their website here:

http://www.invasivespecies.wa.gov/priorities/nutria.shtml

A video on the Nutria problem in the Northwest can be found on the United States Fish and Wild Life Service’s Youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxWGHfeAEGI&lr=1&uid=MqPAPfBGsDMs2UiD-5Tbbg

Photograph: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service