A nutria enjoying a snack

theotterone@lemmy.world to aww@lemmy.world – 305 points –

Roaming in Prague

25

I went "awww" until I read wikipedia about them and saw that they're invasive. They're native to South America, and have been introduced to other places around the world by fur traders.

The fact that the animal was brought by people somewhere it doesn't belong doesn't mean it can't inspire an aww. It's just one more bad thing about people, not about the animal.

Starlings are invasive but I still love their little weeews

They are a serious danger for dams and dikes, as they like to build their tunnels in them. And they had to close a train line recently because Nutria basically destroyed the embankment under the tracks.

I know that's not good, but somehow it makes me aww even more. Even native nature collides with civilisation and I do like many aspects of civilisation, but I view nature as an underdog, so I tend to cheer for it.

Tell that to the people who lost their homes to those buggers in the current floods.

Even here in South America, depending on the region, they're invasive.

Is it just me or does the species name sound more like a microscopic animal? That’s what I’ve always thought.

The singular is nutrium.

Pretty sure it's nutria: https://www.britannica.com/animal/nutria ; anyway enjoy the nice creature!

It's basic pluralization.

aquarium ➝ aquaria

bacterium ➝ bacteria

millennium ➝ millennia

nutrium ➝ nutria

Did you read the provided article?

Did you read a dictionary?

"did you read the dictionary" mfs when the dictionary disagrees with them (not all words are latinate in origin)

I had no idea these just... lived in Prague. City wildlife always surprises me even though we have plenty of our own

I never knew these even existed. Thanks OP, you da bomb. (╭☞´ิ∀´ิ)╭☞

Nasty little buggers who build their tunnels in dikes and dams. Which makes them a real threat at the current high waters. You are not allowed to feed them, but stupid people still do it. Just a few weeks ago they caught one who had spread a whole sack of carrots to feed them.

On another note: There is an offical hunter somewhere in the area who sells Nutria meat loaves.