Around noon on Christmas Day, December 25, we received a tip and photos from Ashitsu reader Omama-chan saying there was a “nutria” in the Miyagawa River!
Here it is↓
It’s there… right in the middle of the photo!
↑There’s a large rat-like creature among the dry grass…! So this is a “nutria”~
Nutria are rodents native to South America that live near water and are good swimmers. Apparently, they mainly eat aquatic plants and shellfish.
According to Omama-chan, who sent in the photos, it had been “a while” since she last saw a nutria in the Miyagawa River… so they’ve been here before!? Where do they usually stay…? Maybe they have burrows~
Screenshot from the Ashiya City official website
↑Ashiya City also lists nutria, along with raccoons, as a designated invasive alien species and is calling for caution.
They look pretty cute, but they may carry diseases that can spread from animals to humans, and they can also damage home vegetable gardens and other crops.
Please be careful: don’t feed them, and don’t get too close unnecessarily! (Apparently, trap cages are also available for loan as a damage-control measure.)
Omama-chan, thank you very much for the tip and photos!!
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