Nutria: Voracious swamp rodents set off alarms in California
Source: Associated Press
Voracious swamp rodents set off alarms in California
By SAMANTHA MALDONADO and TERRY CHEA
September 25, 2019
LOS BANOS, Calif. (AP) — One of the most recent threats to California’s environment has webbed feet, white whiskers, shaggy fur and orange buck teeth that could be mistaken for carrots.
“Boy, they’re an ugly-looking thing,” said David Passadori, an almond and walnut grower in central California. “And the way they multiply — jeez.”
The swamp rodents, called nutria, are setting off alarms in California. They weigh about 20 pounds (9 kilograms) each and eat the equivalent of about a fourth of their weight each day by burrowing into riverbanks and chomping into plants that emerge from the water.
The animals can destroy the wetland habitats of rare and endangered species, degrading soil, ruining crops and carrying pathogens that may threaten livestock.
Most of all, they pose a public safety risk: Left unchecked, nutria could jeopardize California’s water supply, especially if they get into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/2ee658d08cd34aaaac4c572af22b9efe
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