To a casual observer, nutria are cute animals resembling small beavers. However, a deep dive reveals something more sinister. This invasive species has been the source of damage to plant life in lakes, swamps, marshes, and more.
These creatures have been the target of eradication efforts by California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) ever since they were first observed in the area in 2017. Due to these efforts, the population of nutria in California has been down.
Valerie Cook, the Nutria Eradication Program Manager at the CDFW, told The Epoch Times that the number of nutria captured reached a peak of 1,239 in 2020 and declined to 135 so far in 2023 despite consistent efforts. As of 2023, the total amount of nutria taken is 3,516….