Nutria (invasive)

Credit: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

The Nutria is a large rat-like semiaquatic rodent commonly found in the Tualatin River watershed. Nutria were introduced deliberately into North America from South America for fur farming in the 1930s. They are active mostly at night, although individuals occasionally may be observed swimming, feeding or walking along a pond bank during the daylight hours. Nutria compete in the same habitat with native Beavers and Muskrat.