Many live in the United States, as well. The gestation period for nutria ranges from 130 to 132 days and litters average 4 to 5 young, with a range of 1 to 13. They were introduced to Oregon in the 1930s. In 2017, a reproducing population of nutria was discovered in California’s San Joaquin Valley; as of May 2019, nutria have been confirmed in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties. This page has information aobut how to tell the difference between beavers, muskrats and nutria. As unprotected wildlife nutria may be trapped (cannot be relocated) or shot. Nutria, a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America, were brought to the United States for their fur in the 1880s. The nutria is a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America. Nutria, a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America, were brought to the United States for their fur in the 1880s. Nutria A large, rat-like semiaquatic rodent, nutria are an invasive species in Oregon. The nutria is rounded and solid, whereas the river otter is slender and elongated. After a boom in nutria ranches during the 1930s, the animals escaped or were released from fur farms in the Pacific Northwest, Louisiana and other states, where they are now considered a threat to native wildlife, wetland habitats, water quality and They are often mistaken for beavers but can be distinguished by their smaller size and round tails, which are pointed at the tip (beavers have broad, lattened tails). They were introduced to Oregon in the 1930s. In Oregon, the nutria is considered an invasive species. Fur ranchers imported nutria into California, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, New Mexico, Louisiana, Ohio, and Utah between 1899 and 1940. The coypu (Myocastor coypus) has typical rodent adaptations, including large, strong front teeth for gnawing. No license is needed for a landowner to control nutria on his/her own property. These rodents are semi-aquatic and enjoy swimming. Nutria were introduced to the United States for their fur. When the nutria fur market collapsed in the late 1940s, however, thousands of nutria were released. Nutria come from South America and are notorious for invading other regions of the U.S.; according to Fish and Wildlife, the rodent is established in 18 states, including Oregon and Washington. It's also a species of management concern for some landowners. Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are sizable omnivorous rodents that originally come from South America. Coypu is another name for these semi-aquatic creatures. Nutria were introduced to the United States for their fur. The nutria is a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America. In Oregon, nutria are classified as unprotected Nongame Wildlife (OAR 635-044-0132). Nutria are sturdy and squat in build. Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are relatively big rodents that grow to between 17 and 25 inches long (43 to 64 centimeters) from head to rump, which is about the same size as a raccoon… The American beaver is a native mammal that plays an important ecological role in our watersheds. Broad (horizontally flattened) and … From a distance, nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus) can be mistaken for beaver, but it is a smaller animal with a thin, pointed tail. No license is needed for a landowner to control nutria on his/her own property. American Beaver (Castor canadensis) Characteristics. In the U.S., nutria have been found in 30 states, but are currently established in as many as 18, including Washington, and Oregon.