A giant rodent, twice the size of a house cat, is causing major problems throughout the Bay Aria.
Known as the “Nutria,” these animals are native to South America and are causing chaos to farmers, pet owners, and general infrastructure.
Beware the rodents!
At a glance:
- Nutria, large invasive rodents, have spread to the Bay Area, threatening California’s infrastructure, agriculture, and water supply.
- These rodents are notorious for causing significant damage to levees, irrigation networks, and wetlands, and they can spread dangerous diseases.
- Over 5,200 nutria have been eradicated in California since 2017, but the population continues to grow, especially in Merced, Solano, and Contra Costa counties.
California is facing a new menace—an invasion of enormous rodents known as nutria. Weighing up to 25 pounds, these semi-aquatic creatures, sometimes called “swamp rats,” have made their way into the Bay Area, and they’re wreaking havoc on the state’s infrastructure, environment, and public health.
Originally from South America, nutria were introduced to the United States in the late 1800s for the fur trade. California had successfully eradicated them in the 1970s, but since 2017, these rodents have made an unwelcome return, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley. Now, their population is spreading rapidly, reaching areas like Contra Costa and Solano counties.
This is what they look like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfUJ7mlGbo
These rodents might look like oversized muskrats or small beavers, but their impact is far more destructive. Nutria burrow into embankments, levees, and dams, weakening infrastructure that is vital to California’s water systems. They’ve already been blamed for causing road collapses and could pose a serious risk to the state’s irrigation networks, especially in agricultural areas.
But it’s not just infrastructure that’s at risk—nutria also pose a threat to California’s ecosystem and agriculture. Their feeding habits are particularly damaging. Nutria can eat up to 25% of their body weight in vegetation daily, but they destroy far more than they consume. This destruction devastates native plant communities and threatens endangered species in wetland habitats.
The problem extends beyond the environment and infrastructure, as nutria are carriers of harmful diseases. These rodents can spread bacteria and parasites, posing a serious health risk to humans, pets, and livestock. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) warns that nutria can host diseases like tuberculosis and septicemia, and they carry parasites that can contaminate water supplies and even cause skin rashes known as “nutria itch.”
Efforts to control the spread of nutria have been ongoing. Since 2017, over 5,200 nutria have been killed in California, with more than 1,100 eliminated this year alone. Merced County has seen the highest number of kills, but the population is expanding into new territories, including the Bay Area. The CDFW is urging residents to report any sightings and has deployed teams to track and eradicate the rodents before they can cause further damage.
Residents and landowners are being asked to allow nutria survey teams onto their properties to help in the fight against this invasive species. For those who encounter a nutria, the advice is clear: do not release the animal, and report it immediately to wildlife officials.
California’s war against nutria is far from over, and as these rodents continue to spread, the state’s infrastructure, environment, and health hang in the balance.