Imported for fur, giant rodent now devastates US wetlands
Nutria, a large invasive rodent species originally imported for the fur trade, are causing significant environmental damage to US wetlands. State officials in California are spending millions annually on eradication efforts to control the rapidly breeding population.
Why it matters
Invasive species pose a severe threat to biodiversity and local ecosystems, often requiring expensive and long-term government intervention to manage.
Two hundred years ago, you wouldn't have been able to find them outside of South America. But since then, Nutria, one of the world's largest rodents, has taken over US. These rodents were initially brought to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily for fur farming, since their soft underfur was valuable in the fur trade.They first took hold when they were brought to Avery Island, a swampy coastal part of Louisiana 30 miles south of Lafayette and the production site for Tabasco brand hot sauce. Many were bred and kept in fur farms or released and regularly trapped.But when the fur market collapsed after the 1940s, many were released or escaped into the wild, establishing feral populations. The invasive creatures began damaging the environment, prompting state officials to take action to curb the population.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in