Nutria, an invasive species of rodent, has simply been found in a brand new a part of California … and so they’re posing a menace to people, pets livestock and an vital ecosystem.
These critters are invading the Bay Space, making their approach into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Contra Costa County … a vital supply of water for the state.
Resembling beavers and rising as much as 3 toes lengthy with vibrant orange enamel, Nutria are identified to hold parasites and tapeworms, amongst different nasty issues … which implies their pee and poop can then contaminate ingesting water provides.
One other drawback Nutria pose … destroying native vegetation, crops and wetland areas … and weakening levies.
The swamp rats initially got here to the US from South America in 1889, once they have been traded for his or her fur … however now they’re one in all our nation’s invasive species, and their presence in California is inflicting officers to ring the alarm.
Of us within the Bay Space are being requested to report and doc any Nutria sightings, with California Division of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Peter Tira telling SF Gate, “We cannot have nutria reproducing in the delta. The threat to California’s economy is too great.”
