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1h ago

DNA Study Links California’s Nutria to Oregon, Pointing to Human Reintroduction

The conclusion directs California to tighten biosecurity at entry points.

Greg Gerstenberg, senior biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, finds a nutria caught in one of the traps they placed at the China Island state wildlife area near Gustine, Calif., on May 2, 2018.
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Overview

  • The genomic analysis, which CDFW released Tuesday, links California nutria to a central Oregon population and indicates a human reintroduction.
  • Researchers compared DNA from today’s rodents with historical specimens from museums and a taxidermy mount to pinpoint the source and inform future tracking.
  • State scientists say natural migration is highly unlikely because the distance is large and no nutria have been found in the areas between the two regions.
  • Since 2017, crews have removed 7,841 animals as California spends about $5 million a year on trapping, surveillance, and inspection stations at key road entries.
  • Nutria devour wetland plants and burrow into banks, which can damage levees, irrigation, and crops, and CDFW says transport is illegal, the motive remains unknown, and residents should report sightings rather than move the animals.