Tule Elk Preserve, April 2022 Non-Native Nutria Sighting |
||||
 |
| Favorite section of Tule Elk Preserve's waterway. |
 |
| At my feet, noticed something moving just beneath the water's surface. |
 |
| I held my breath thinking it might be a Western Pond Turtle foraging. But alas! It was a large Grass Carp swimming lazily in the shallows. |
 |
| Imagine my surprise when a little later, saw this Nutria (noo-TREE-uh). And yes, what attracted my attention was the slap of its tail. |
 |
| Sure looked like the Nutria had caught a large Grass Carp. Nutria are native of South America and are considered invasive. |
 |
| But Nutria are plant eaters. So my guess is when foraging underwater, the carp got tangled in the vegetation and was dragged along. |
 |
| Further along the waterway, watched another Nutria swim into the shallows and appear to bask in the sun. It did not look healthy. |
 |
| Due to CA's severe drought, waterways contain less water than in past years. |
Return to Top.
|