Mammals - invasive

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) on Oct 17, 2020

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Smaller than a duck, but size of a large rat. Brown fur with white markings by nose and mouth. Rodent tail. Feeding on nearby grass, swimming in pond

Commentary

Thank you for your report. Unfortunately nutria are a common sight western Oregon. Depending on the needs of the site and potential damage nutria are or may be causing, they are sometimes removed, but our nutria populations are healthy and others will often return. There is a lot of good information about nutria in Oregon on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Living With Wildlife site, https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/nutria.asp.

Lindsey Wise
Jan. 25, 2021, 1:27 a.m.