The generic name for this nocturnal aquatic rodent comes from the Greek words for "mouse" (mys) and "beaver" (kastor). Although it often feeds on land, when disturbed the Nutria returns to the water, often with a loud splash. It can remain submerged for several minutes and often floats just under the surface with only eyes and nose exposed. Its nest of plant materials is made either in a burrow dug in a riverbank, with an entrance aboveground or in shallow water; or in the burrow of another animal or in the house of an American Beaver or a muskrat. Feeding on almost any terrestrial or aquatic green plant, the Nutria also consumes some grain, sometimes dipping its food into water before eating. It may occupy feeding platforms to rest and to avoid terrestrial predators. Like the lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas), the Nutria reingests fecal pellets in order to digest food more completely while at rest. Courtship features much chasing, fighting, and biting. The young are born fully haired and with eyes open. Within 24 hours, the well-developed young swim with their mother and nibble green plants. Introduced in Louisiana in the 1930s for their fur, many Nutrias escaped from captivity during the hurricane floodings of the 1940s, multiplied enormously in the wild, and became more important than muskrats to Louisiana’s trapping industry. More than 1 million Nutrias were taken in Louisiana in 1984 and 1985. However, the fur industry collapsed in the late 1980s, and in 1991 only 134,000 Nutrias were taken. The long, coarse guard hairs are used in making felt for hats; the soft belly fur, resembling that of the American Beaver, is used for coats and linings. When populations are high, Nutrias may undermine stream banks, deplete wild vegetation, and raid rice and other crops.

description Large aquatic rodent. Brown above; somewhat paler below. Long, scaly, sparsely haired rounded tail. Muzzle and chin whitish. Ears and eyes small. Incisors dark orange, protruding beyond lips. Hindfeet longer than forefeet, with inner 4 toes webbed. Male larger than female. L 26–55" (67–140 cm); T 11 3/4–17 1/4" (30–44 cm); HF 4 3/8"–5 1/2" (11–14 cm); Wt 5–25 lb (2.3–11.3 kg).

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