You may be hearing and seeing more about Nutria in the future, because in places like Louisiana and Maryland, Nutria have become a major pest, and a significant threat to wetland habitats. Nutria are probably most commonly mistaken for either muskrats or beavers , both of which are species native to the Northwest. The word Nutria in Spanish means otter, but Nutria are not otters. They are much larger than the muskrat, which typically only grow to about 3 lb. They may be distinguished from beavers by their tails and by their whiskers.
Nutria also sport white or light colored whiskers that beavers lack.