Nutria Invasion Threatens Bay Area Health and Infrastructure
Image Name: Nutria Invasion in Bay area
An invading rodent, the nutria, has become a major and alarming issue in the Bay Area endangering infrastructure and health. Originally from South America, these semi-aquatic creatures have been expanding over the continent and causing concerns because of their possible to cause great damage and health hazards.
Rising to 25 pounds, nutria—also known as swamp rats—double the weight of a typical cat. Though their vivid orange teeth set them apart from beavers or muskrats, they are sometimes confused. Originally transported to the United States for the fur trade in the late 1800s, these roughly two-foot-long rodents—excluding their tails—first surfaced in Elizabeth Lake in Southern California.
In the 1970s, California effectively destroyed the nutria population; nevertheless, in the San Joaquin Valley, a breeding population reappeared 2017. Ever since, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been aggressively trying to stop their expansion. With their presence now found in Contra Costa and Solano counties, over 1,100 nutrias have been caught and killed just this year. The state has almost eliminated around 5,200 nutria since the rediscovery in 2017.
Though trap kinds are limited, the CDFW classified nutria as a nongame mammal, allowing property owners to legally shoot them to defend crops and land. Following rules set by the American Veterinary Medical Association, humane euthanasia is done with pellet pistols. The CDFW forbids the use of pesticides or poisons expressly to manage the nutria count.
Often living in embankments, dams, and dikes, nutria are burrowing mammals that cause major environmental and structural damage. Their burrowing efforts seriously jeopardize levees, irrigation systems, and important rivers as well as cause streambank erosion. Further underscoring their destructive power are claims of roadbed failures attributed to these rats.
Apart from the harm to infrastructure, nutria seriously endanger ecology. Up to 25% of their body weight in plants daily, they are voracious eaters; they also waste and destroy up to 10 times as much. While also threatening species in wetland environments, this feeding behavior destroys native plant populations, soil structures, and agricultural crops.
Another big issue is health hazards related to nutria. These mice can transmit parasites and disease-causing pathogens that could pollute pet, cattle, and human supplies of water. Nutria can contain TB, septicemia, and a nematode creating a rash called “nutria itch,” the CDFW notes. Additionally carried by them are liver flukes and tapeworms, which could pollute drinking water sources and bathing places.
To stop a full-scale outbreak, the CDFW has been aggressive in setting cameras in the Delta to track and spot nutria presence and sending survey teams. Trap use by wildlife agents helps to manage and wipe out the rodent count. With 2,527 recorded nutria taken during 2017, Merced County boasts the greatest eradication count. While Contra Costa County has two confirmed incidences as of the most recent data, Solano County in the Bay Area has seen at least 486 nutria eradicated.
To raise awareness of the nutria threat and to track and stop the species’ spread, the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture is closely working with state wildlife officials Emphasizing the severity of the matter, Agricultural Commissioner Matthew Slattengren said, “The Nutria is an invading species that can be harmful to wetland habitat, crops, and can undermine levees to the point of failure. Nutria in the Delta helps it to spread into other areas more easily.
Nutria numbers can rise quickly; females can produce their first litter by the age of eight months. Usually ranging from two to 13 puppies, each female can produce up to three litters annually, so they breed year-round. This fast rate of reproduction emphasizes the need of population control to stop more spread and damage.
State officials advise citizens who find a nutria or detect indicators of their presence to snap a picture and forward it right away to the CDFW. Reports can be generated by phone (866) 440-9530 or by email at [email protected]. Residents should also call their local CDFW office or their county agriculture commissioner for appropriate handling and avoid releasing caught nutria.
Affecting infrastructure, environment, and public health, this invading species poses a multifarious threat to the Bay Area. Managing and reducing the hazards caused by nutria depends on constant efforts by the CDFW and local authorities, therefore guaranteeing the preservation of California’s environment and communities.
This story was originally featured on KTVU
