Glad I live in PA

**larrymeyer** · December 5th, 2007, 05:55 PM

Maybe they'll replace the deer that aren't around any more!!!!!

http://www.nbc10.com/news/14779385/d...s=phi&psp=news

Scientists: Be On Lookout For 20-Pound Rodents

POSTED: 9:57 am EST December 5, 2007
UPDATED: 10:11 am EST December 5, 2007

NEWARK, N.J. -- It's not the Jersey Devil, but its reputation is just as bad.

A 20-pound rodent that scientists call one of the world's worst invasive species has been spotted in New Jersey.

State Fish and Wildlife biologist Andrew Burnett told The Star-Ledger of Newark he saw one nutria swimming in Salem County's Lower Alloways Creek Township in late October.

The critters are native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. But they've been showing up in North America.

Burnett said nutria eat vegetation, causing animals and fish to lose their habitats.

State wildlife officials are asking people who spot nutrias to report them so they can determine whether they're colonizing in the state.

**RocketFoot** · December 5th, 2007, 05:57 PM

Hell yeah! 20 pound rats would be a blast to shoot at the dumps!

**LorDiego01** · December 5th, 2007, 07:39 PM

Cool!

Nutrias are not that bad, they love the water, and are more like Beavers if I'm not mistaken.

**MarcS** · December 5th, 2007, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by LorDiego01

Cool!

Nutrias are not that bad, they love the water, and are more like Beavers if I'm not mistaken.

and they're probably delicious.

**Brick** · December 5th, 2007, 08:10 PM

If I remember correctly nutria were imported to the U. S. by people in the fur trade, because their fur is very much like otter fur. Unfortunately PETA etal made headway with their anti-fur campaign and some animals managed to escape.