Overview - Nutria

The nutria is a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America. They were brought to the United States in the late 1800s for the fur trade.  In addition to damaging vegetation and crops, nutria destroy the banks of ditches, lakes, and other water bodies. The long term damage nutria cause to marsh vegetation subsequently affects the plant and animal species that also inhabit those areas.

To view the WS factsheet, Nutria, an Invasive Rodent, click the icon below:

Click here for more information about the biology and ecology of nutria.

Click here to view nutria distribution maps and biological information about this species.