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Posted on 04/12/2026 5:31:15 AM PDT by Libloather
California is under invasion from a 20-pound rodent once believed to have been eradicated from the state – and officials now fear humans may be to blame.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said DNA testing of the 2.5-foot-long pest, known as a nutria, shows the current population is linked to animals in Oregon, not to the species that roamed California in the 1970s before being wiped out.
“This study supports our long-held belief that the current invasion is the result of reintroduction rather than explosive growth of a remnant, undetected population,” the CDFW ‘s Nutria Eradication Program Manager Valerie Cook said.
Nutria are semi-aquatic rodents native to South America that live near freshwater and estuaries. Because they burrow like beavers, they can cause extensive damage to water infrastructure, banks and levees, posing a hazard to people, livestock and machine operators, according to the agency.
The species is classified as an A-rated pest.
The big question now is why – was it accidental, or something more nefarious?
“Given where nutria were rediscovered in California, it is nearly impossible that they could have migrated there on their own,” Michael Buchalski of the CDFW told SFGATE.
“It’s too far of a distance and we don’t find any nutria in the areas in between. That makes human introduction the most likely scenario.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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They make good sausage.
Rats of unusual size.
Time to bring back the fur industry.
Oh, snap.
While Nutria meat can be cooked a wide variety of ways it can be on the tough side thus improves with low, moist heat.
https://www.exoticmeatmarkets.com/Nutria-Meat-Buy-Nutria-Meat-Nutria-Meat-recipes-s/221.htm
The place was already filthy and overrun with 200lb. ‘rats.
California is infested with much larger two-legged rodents. They carry a disease called TDS.
All kinds of 'unwanted' creatures out there!
Hows 'bout REINTRODUCE a gate keeper?!! 😖😏
😂👍
The uniparty mascot should be half rat and half weasel.
W don’t need the elephant and jackass anymore.
;^)
Look like a groundhog or a woodchuck..
Given their size, they look to me like beavers without their paddle-tails
Not if you hit them with your car and run them over after leaving them on the side of the road to tenderize for at least 3 days on hot asphalt. Well some people may not like the smell after this type of tenderization The taste will leave you speechless.
Looks like Punxsutawney Phil
“Also, some people just really like nutria…”
…same kind of people that have a pet anaconda and pirhanas.
Are they nutritious?
Mountain Lion candy?
The feral human population is far worse.
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