[Photo: Joyce Gross, UC Berkeley]
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – An invasive type of rodent called “nutria” is reproducing in the San Joaquin Valley.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to report sightings as they hope to determine the extent of the infestation.
The large, semi-aquatic animal can be over 2-feet long, have a 12-inch tail and weigh 20 pounds.
Nutria have been found in wetlands, rivers, canals and other freshwater habitat in Merced, Fresno and Stanislaus counties.
Since last March, more than 20 nutria have been spotted in wetlands near Gustine, the Merced River near Cressey, adjacent to the San Joaquin River near Grayson, south of Dos Palos, the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, and Salt Slough on the San Joaquin River. The full extent of the infestation is not yet known.
The rat-like animal can damage agricultural crops and wetlands, causing severe soil erosion, reduced stability of banks, dikes and roadbeds, as they have done in Louisiana, Chesapeake Bay and the Pacific Northwest.
