Nutria Collection 01

Below is a collection of photographs I shot of a family of Nutria. Most people have never heard of Nutria. I have been a wildlife fan since I was a child, but I first learned about Nutria at age 38. If you do know what Nutria are, you might live in an area where they are considered pests, which is likely how you learned about them.

Nutria are semi-aquatic rodents that look like a cross between a Beaver and a Rat. As adults, they are relatively small, weighing between 10-20 pounds and measuring about two feet long, not including their tails.

However, the history of Nutria is more interesting. At the turn of the 19th Century, Nutria were brought to North America from South America to be bred for their pelts, otherwise known as furry skin. Apparently, Nutria pelts were faster and cheaper to harvest at the time compared to Beaver or Rabbit.

But the people breeding these Nutria were careless, and the Nutria eventually escaped from their prison cells. Being rodents that reproduce quickly, they spread throughout various areas of North America in a relatively short amount of time.

They are now considered an invasive species, so it is typical for states to allow, and even encourage, trapping and hunting Nutria year-round.

I upheld my right to shoot them in my own way. I grabbed my camera and shot them multiple times.

Below are photographs of just one family of Nutria, taken as I spent an evening with them during sunset. There were a total of five Nutria: one adult and four young. The juveniles were only about 8 inches (20 cm) long, which is pretty small.

I prefer to not disturb wildlife, which is why I use a pretty long lens on my camera. However, the Nutria seemed to like my company and kept coming closer. When they got too close for my lens, I would move to a different area and try a new vantage point. But eventually the Nutria would find me again and try to get too close once more, and this cycle would repeat. I got some pretty detailed shots because they were not afraid to get so close to me. In fact, they seemed to enjoy my company.

The experience I had was more fun than just taking photographs. I watched them swim around. I watched them collect plant food. I watched them eat. I watched them hang out with one another. I watched them explore further out by themselves, only to quickly swim back to the rest of the family for safety. I watched them huddle up with one another. I watched them touch each other on their noses. I thought it was very beautiful to watch, and I think my images convey that beauty.

It is unfortunate that our only option to reduce their high population, which is the result of human interference, is to kill them.

BAM☺︎