Ability to Respond Total:14 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Prolific breeders, can produce two litters per year. Many states are dealing with infestations, including the south, Midwest, and the pacific northwest. Nutria adapt to different climates.
5
Spread Amount
Can occupy many California habitats. Past modeling of Nutria distribution and climate change predict that California is highly suitable for Nutria establishment and spread. Nutria are aquatic species, as such, distribution would be limited to waterways.
4
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Nutria have contributed to massive wetland destruction and land loss. Nutria could feed directly on threatened or endangered wetland and riparian plants. Nutria have created eat-outs completely denuding vast areas of habitat, their burrowing activity also contributes to increased siltation of waterways which can impact fish habitat.
5
Agricultural
Damage multiple crops and girdle fruit trees adjacent to wetlands. In Italy, Nutria are considered a substantial pest in rice production.
5
Infrastructure
May damage water control structures such as dykes and levees.
3
Cultural
May cause damage to areas where Native Americans harvest plant material used in traditional capacities. Also damage recreational fishing areas with sediment deposits from erosion and potentially cause habitat degradation of salmonid breeding habitats.
2
Health
Can serve as a repository of a variety of diseases to animals and humans and have been reported acting aggressively toward pets and humans.
2
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
A source of food -- online at: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/experience/nutriacontrol/humanconsumption/recipes.cfm
1
Health
0
Total
25
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Moderately easy to detect, however care should be taken not to confuse these furbearers with beaver or muskrat.
4
Control
Aggressive early trapping in an incipient infestation may be effective, however, populations can explodes if not controlled. Many areas of the United States currently have control and eradication programs targeting Nutria.
3
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
Legal barriers are in place, but animals may be transported illegally.
3
Control
Mandates in place, but control techniques are limited to trapping and shooting; a CDFA "A"-rated pest
