Tag Archives: Invasive Species

What is a Nutria? Everything You Need to Know

What is a Nutria? Everything You Need to Know About This Invasive Species

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are large, semi-aquatic rodents from South America. They were brought to the United States in 1889 for fur farming. Now, they are an invasive species in at least 20 U.S. states. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as one of the 100 worst invasive species. These rodents are […]

The Nutria Diet: What Do Nutrias Eat and How Do They Impact the Environment?

The Nutria Diet: What Do Nutrias Eat and How Do They Impact the Environment?

Nutrias mainly eat plants and vegetation, like cordgrasses and bulrushes. They also eat insects, mussels, and crustaceans sometimes. This diet helps them grow fast and have many babies, as their young can eat right after birth. The damage nutrias do to the environment is huge. They eat a lot and burrow into the ground, destroying […]

Nutria Habitats: Where They Live and Why They’re a Problem

Nutria Habitats: Where They Live and Why They’re a Problem

In the Gulf Coast states, nutria are most common. They also cause issues in the southeastern states, the Pacific Northwest, and along the Atlantic coast. Their big appetite and fast breeding harm native plants, crops, and wetlands. This damage is permanent and affects vital ecosystems. Nutria are now found almost everywhere on earth. Introduced to […]