Nutria Research Paper

The Nutria is a large rodent and its native habitat is South America. They are predominantly found in rivers, marshes that are fresh, several types of wetlands, and on some occasion’s swamps. Nutrias were imported to the United States because of their fur. They were eventually released into the environment and are reported to have spread to many parts of Maryland (Kendrot). These animals are detrimental to the marshes in Maryland, and need to be prevented from spreading more before the damage done becomes irreversible. The Nutria can grow to 20 pounds; however, most of the time they range from 12 to 15 pounds and are on average 24 inches long (Leblanc). They seem to have the appearance of a beaver, yet their tale resembles that of a rat and

Also alligators and cottonmouth snakes come after them. These animals breed year round in every season. There are certain times of the year in which reproduction is greater than others and that is displayed in early summer, late winter, and in some occasions mid mid-autumn. Nutria’s birth on average four to five babies, but can range anywhere from one to thirteen. The size of the litter decreases generally during the winter. They weigh around eight ounces once they are born and are entirely furred. They usually feed from the mother until around seven or eight weeks

In Maryland, Nutria greatly impacts the marshes in a negative way because since they breed all year there is no cap to their reproductive capacity, no natural predators in Maryland, and they eat marsh plants (Kendrot). The Nutria greatly decreases the amount of native habitat of the waterfowl and the muskrat. “The Backwater National Wildlife Refuge has lost about 7,000 acres of Olney three-square brush, 53 percent of the remaining marsh was considered to be unhealthy” and will most likely dissipate in the near future (Kendrot). Nutria has impacted many species even humans. The marshes help filter clean water, are areas for young crab and fish to grow. Habitat for wading birds, muskrats, and waterfowl will be gone if the Nutria epidemic continues(Texas parks and