🐀 Nutria

Myocastor coypus

Mammal5 front / 5 hind (partly webbed) toesHind 2.5–3 in
About

A big invasive marsh rodent with partly webbed hind feet and orange teeth.

Track

Hind 2.5–3 in. Five hind toes with webbing between four of them. Fifth hind toe free of the web. Heavy tail drag. Cut vegetation and bank slides.

Where they live

Marshes, canals, bayous, slow rivers. Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest and beyond; native to South America.

When they're active

Nocturnal and crepuscular

What they eat

Marsh plant roots and stems

Fun fact

Nutria eat the roots of marsh plants, which is why they wreck wetlands so fast.

Should I be concerned?

Avoid handling; they can bite hard.

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