Myocastor coypus : Nutria

Origin: South America.

Colonized areas: North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Method of colonization: Accidental introduction, escape from breeding farms (fur).

Impacts: Burrows along the banks of rivers, lakes and streams cause major erosion problems.

Rate of reproduction: Reaches sexual maturity between the age of 3 and 10 months. Litters of 2 to 9 young.

Obstacles to eradication: Drop in price of fur (lack of interest on the part of trappers).