What is the difference between a beaver and a nutria?

Nutria are smaller than a beaver but larger than a muskrat; unlike beavers or muskrats, however, it has a round, slightly haired tail. The forelegs are small compared with its body size. The forepaws, have five toes; four are clawed and the fifth is reduced in size.

Why is a nutria harmful?

Nutria cause extensive damage to wetlands, agricultural crops, and structural foundations such as dikes and roads. They may also threaten human health and safety and serve as a reservoir for tularemia and other diseases.

What do Nutrias look like?

Although they’re about the size of a raccoon, nutria look more like a cross between a small beaver (opens in new tab) and a giant rat, with two large, orange front teeth and long, rounded tails.

How do you tell a muskrat from a nutria?

When trying to decide whether an animal is a muskrat or a nutria, check the pest’s tail. Muskrats have thin, scaly tails that are flat on the sides. On the other hand, nutria tails are rounded, hairy, and rat-like. Nutria use foliage to make beds and dig volleyball-sized dens in ditches and river banks.

What to do if you see a nutria?

Actions Taken if Found Suspected observations or potential signs of nutria in California should be photographed and immediately reported to CDFW ONLINE, by email to [email protected], or by calling (866) 440-9530. Observations on state or federal lands should be immediately reported to local agency staff.

What states do nutrias live?

In 2017, a reproducing population of nutria was discovered in California’s San Joaquin Valley; as of May 2019, nutria have been confirmed in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties.

Can nutria be a pet?

As an invasive species, it is unadvisable to own a nutria rat as a pet. If it were to escape it could add to the invasive breeding population. It is also illegal to own nutria in some states, and requires access to an aquatic habitat.

What states do Nutrias live?

What diseases do nutria carry?

Nutria carry a wide variety of diseases and pathogens like rabies, equine encephalomyelitis, paratyphoid, salmonellosis, pappilomatosis, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, richettsia, coccidiosis, and sarcoporidiosis (Sheffels and Sytsma 2007).

What is the difference between nutria and muskrats?

Muskrats have thin, scaly tails that are flat on the sides. On the other hand, nutria tails are rounded, hairy, and rat-like. Nutria use foliage to make beds and dig volleyball-sized dens in ditches and river banks. Muskrats build mounds of plants and mud with underground entrances.

Where are nutria found in the United States?

In many regions they cause severe damage. Nutria are most abundant in the Gulf Coast States, but they also cause problems in other southeastern States, the Pacific Northwest, and along the Atlantic coast. In addition to damaging vegetation and crops, nutria destroy the banks of ditches, lakes, and other water bodies.