Thank you for submitting the report. Unfortunately nutria are common throughout the Portland metro region, including the area you observed the animal. Nutria can potentially carry a variety of diseases that can be transmitted to other species, including humans in some cases. Nutria can also become aggressive on occasion, so please encourage people not to feed the nutria if you ever observe that activity.

The nutria page on the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs website at http://www.clr.pdx.edu/projects/ans/nutria.php contains more information on nutria impacts if you are interested. My contact information can also be found on this site if you have questions or would like further information.

Thanks again for your efforts!

Trevor Sheffels
Center for Lakes and Reservoirs
Portland State University

Trevor Sheffels
June 8, 2013, 9:45 a.m.