Mammals - invasive

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) on Aug 3, 2008

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

they looked like very large rat like...but fur looked more like beaver with a long tail....probably about 9pm...adult and smaller..eating the grass

Commentary

Thank you for submitting this report. The animal you saw was in fact a nutria; the thin rat-like tail, webbed hind feet, and white whiskers are all distinguishing characteristics of this species. Nutria are now common in wetlands throughout the Portland Metro area, so you may see more nutria in the future.

If you would like more information on nutria, please visit the nutria page on the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs website at http://www.clr.pdx.edu/projects/ans/nutria.php. My contact information can also be found on this page if you have further questions.

Trevor Sheffels
Center for Lakes and Reservoirs
Portland State University

Trevor Sheffels
Aug. 5, 2008, 6:06 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 grass area i front of night club bushwackers next to creek. i am new to area and had no idea what i had seen, probably 15 to 20 of these large rat looking animals but not rats but looking something like a beaver with long tail. just tonight watching tv about reporting unusual sightings and getting the web.looking up and i think it must be nutria.i sat in my car and watched them eat the green grass. i probably watched them for 15 min or longer was quite agroup and they just keepedmcomming..large and small from down in the ccreek area or just a ditch, this was probably in may of 08

Expert Reviewer

Trevor Sheffels

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