In Oregon, the nutria is considered an invasive species.

The nutria is a large rat-like semiaquatic rodent. The species has a hunched body; a round, nearly hairless tail; a valvular mouth and nose; and pentadactyl feet with naked soles. The toes of the hind feet, except for the hallux, are included in a web. As an adaption to the aquatic environment, the eyes, nostrils, and small ears are set high on the sides. The pelage consists of long, course guard hairs and soft, dense underfur. Overall, the color usually ranges from dark brown to yellow-brown. The muzzle is frosted with white hairs. The skull of the nutria is heavy and somewhat angular, like that of the porcupine.

Nutria are native to South America and were introduced deliberately into North America for fur farming in the 1930s. Nutria can be found primarily on the west side of the Cascades from Northern California all the way up to southern BC, and the population keeps expanding. It usually occurs in or adjacent to rivers, lakes, sloughs, marshes, ponds, and temporarily flooded fields.

They are active mostly at night, although individuals occasionally may be observed swimming, feeding or walking along a pond bank during the daylight hours, especially when nighttime temperatures are below freezing, and may be observed basking in the sun when temperatures are low.

Nutrias construct burrows in banks of rivers, sloughs, and ponds, sometimes causing considerable erosion. They build nesting platforms from matted vegetation which are used by maternal females with litters. They are gregarious, commonly forming groups of two to 13 individuals consisting of a male and female dominant over other individuals. Commonly, the subordinate individuals are related. Adult males sometimes are solitary.

Learn more about nutria on our Living with Wildlife, Nutria page. 

Photo from ODFW