ERM 413W
Invasive Species News Article
2/14/13
Taylor
Harris
Invasive Species: Nutria
I urge all members of the public to join in the ecosystem management effort that
is: nutria neutralization! Many people are not familiar with the species nutria. Nutria
were first introduced from South America to Louisiana in order to supplement the fur
trade industry in the early 20th century. The similarity to beaver and otter furs created a
huge demand for nutria pelts. The nutria’s ability to burrow and reproduce quickly
caused a population boom that was instrumental in its habitat expansion up the eastern
coast.
At first glance the nutria, sometimes called the river rat, looks quite harmless. In
reality, this aquatic rodent is causing immense havoc to wetlands all along the eastern
United States. Though herbivorous, the nutria only feed on the stems of plants, and as a
result, wastes roughly 90% of the plant they feed on. This waste, combined with the fact
that an adult nutria eats roughly 25% of its body weight a day in vegetation has caused
vast wetland habitat loss.
Wetland habitat loss is a major environmental issue in the United States.
Wetlands provide an important buffer system to control and mitigate flooding in some
areas. Trees and other wetland vegetation slow the rate of flooding and distribute
floodwater slowly over the entire floodplain. Even distribution of floodwaters results in
more water infiltration into the soil as well as reduced soil erosion. According to the
Office of Environment and Heritage, a reduction in storm-water runoff and soil erosion
can greatly improve the health of local streams and bays.The United States spends
millions of dollars building and maintaining levees that perform the same flood
preventing role as the wetlands that had originally covered those areas. Loss of further
wetland habitat as a result of Nutria feeding could cause even more flood damage in the
future.
Wetlands are also an important habitat for many species of plants, fish, birds,
amphibians, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria. Some of these species are native to only
wetland habitat. As a result of decreased wetland area in the United States due to nutria
expansionfacefac, many species found only in wetland habitats are decreasing in
numbers. An example of an endangered wetland species is the American Crocodile,
whose population in the Florida Everglades have shrunk to between 500 and 1,200.[2]
Because the nutria have no natural predators, the only effective method of
controlling their population is through human intervention. Common methods of nutria
removal include securing traps, shooting, and detection dogs. These methods have lead
to successful eradication in England. The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project
affirms that although eradication programs surrounding the Chesapeake Bay and the
Atlantic coast have nearly succeeded, the nutria still pose a large threat to the wetlands
of the southeastern United States. You can now obtain a government issued nutria
hunting license. Each nutria tail can be turned in for five dollars each! Who wouldn’t
ERM 413W
Invasive Species News Article
2/14/13
Taylor
Harris
want to help eradicate this destructive invasive species in order to return the wetlands to
their former health, all while making some extra money too?
Bibliography
"Plants and Animals in NSW Wetlands." Office of Environment and
Heritage. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2013.
Used this site to access information regarding the role that wetland habitat plays in prevention of
erosion and flooding.
"Endangered Wetland Animals." , Wetland Endangered Animals. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.
Used this site to access information regarding the niche habitat that wetlands supply for many
species of plants and animals.
"Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project." Chesapeake Bay Nutria
Eradication Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
Used this source to obtain information regarding nutria eradication efforts in the Chesapeake Bay
area.
ERM 413W
Invasive Species News Article
2/14/13
Taylor
Harris
ERM 413W
Invasive Species News Article
2/14/13
Taylor
Harris