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THE CRIMES: Damages wetlands, coastal
marshes and river banks by burrowing into the banks, causing erosion,
and destroying the vegetation. Completely destroys some
marshes and river banks. Carries a parasite that causes marsh itch in people.
DESCRIPTION: Brown rodent, 35.56
cm (14 inches) long from nose to base of tail. Can weigh
7.257 – 11.339 kgs (16-25 pounds) or more. Has three
layers of fur and 10.16 cm (4-inch) long whiskers. Its orange
teeth with four large incisors are a distinguishing feature.
Toes on hind feet are connected by a skin web.
The Interrogation
Where are you from?
I’m an amigo from Argentina, South
America.
How did you get here?
I was brought to North America because
people liked my fur. Sometimes I escaped from the fur farms,
and other times the fur farmer would intentionally let me
go and roam the wilds. In Texas people actually brought
me in to manage ponds that were choked with vegetation.
Little did they know that I don’t like algae and many
of the submerged plants. Also, I reproduced in such large
numbers that there was just not enough food to satisfy me.
So I moved on to other areas where I was not wanted in order
to get the food I wanted.
What’s your problem?
I’m responsible for wreaking havoc
on your marshes, wetlands, and stream banks. Thanks to me
there are lots fewer of these important natural areas. We
love to make a maze of tunnels and dens by burrowing into
stream banks. This causes the stream bank to erode away
and can even cause houses to fall into the water! Plus, there
are so many of us that we push out native muskrats. Who knows
where they go, because they can't live with us!
I use my strong teeth to really tear up
the roots of native vegetation that keep these wetlands healthy.
I destroy the plants that nesting waterfowl and other wetland
birds need. Wetland and marsh loss is also an economic problem
for commercial fisheries and local ecotourism in wildlife refuge
areas. People spend lots of money trying to repair the stream
banks we destroy. And, to top all of that, we create human health
problems by passing along a parasite causing "nutria itch".
How can we control you?
I destroy the plants that nesting waterfowl and
other wetland birds need. Wetland and marsh loss is also an economic
problem for commercial fisheries and local ecotourism in wildlife
refuge areas. People spend lots of money trying to repair the stream
banks we destroy. And, to top all of that, we create human health
problems by passing along a parasite causing "nutria itch".
Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is trying to
encourage people to hunt and eat us. They are even coming up with
all sorts of nutria recipes! I hear I taste pretty good! Yikes!
Reward:
The honor of protecting our water resources— A healthier environment
and more opportunities to enjoy our natural areas.
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