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Nutria out of control in California

Last week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said wardens had found more than 20 "nutria" in wetlands, rivers and canals and in Merced, Fresno and Stanislaus counties. Wardens were trying to figure out how to eradicate the rodents, which are as big as small dogs and breed as fast as rabbits. If they take hold, wardens said, nutria could wreak a lot of havoc. "They burrow in dikes and levees and roadbeds so they weaken infrastructure. They're problematic for flood control systems," said Peter Tira, spokesman for the California Fish and Wildlife.Native to South America, nutria can reach up to 2.5 feet in body length and 20 pounds in weight. 

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