Its hind feet are webbed and it has dense fur. Nutrias feed on aquatic vegetation and possibly on mollusks. They dig burrows in river-banks, clear trails in their territory and are extremely destructive to plants and crops. By escaping from farms where they are bred for their fur, these animals have colonized new areas all over the world, and are sometimes considered pests because of the damage they do. Two to three litters of up to 10 young are produced during the year, and the gestation period is 132 days.
Young nutrias can swim only a few hours after birth.
The Evergreen Project, Inc.