portrait of a nutria (coypu) at a lake near home.
Nutria, also known as coypu or swamp rats, are large rodents that live in areas with lots of freshwater.
These mammals are native to South America and were introduced into the United States between 1899 and 1930 through the fur industry, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Nutria are now considered a nuisance in the U.S. and other parts of the world where their populations have grown and their presence has disrupted the native ecosystem.