Mammals - invasive

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) on Jul 30, 2008

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

A nutria right on the path, came up close to me like people have been feeding it. About the size of a cat it looked like a small beaver with a rat tail. When I described it to my mother a couple minutes later she told me it was a nutria.

Commentary

Thank you for submitting the report. Nutria are are now common in urban wetlands around the region, partly due to the fact they are often fed by humans. I have visited this site on Springwater Trail and know for a fact that nutria are fed daily at this location.

It is important to realize that nutria are rodents and potential reservoirs for a variety of diseases that can be transferred to other species, including humans in some cases.

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.

Trevor Sheffels
Center for Lakes and Reservoirs
Portland State University

Trevor Sheffels
Aug. 1, 2008, 3:27 a.m.

Resources

There is a lot of good information about nutria in Oregon on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Living With Wildlife site.

Location

On the Springwater Trail in Gresham just to the east of the 7th street bridge

Expert Reviewer

Trevor Sheffels

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