Nutria are the size and shape of muskrats, only on a grander scale. One
distinguishing feature not alwasy easily seen is that nutria have whitish
or greyish whiskers while most muskrats have blackish whiskers. Nutria
and muskrats share the long tapering black rat-like tail, as opposed to a
beavers flat tail. RK


On Mon, 3 Jun 1996, Wes Jansen wrote:

> I'm taking a chance here, but in an hour or so I should have my slides
> back from the lab with a couple of shots that might reveal just what this
> furry critter is. I'll keep you posted. By the way, just what does a
> nutria look like (you know, size, shape, etc.)?
> wjansen
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On Mon, 3 Jun 1996, Doug Dorer wrote:
>
> > One evening last week, at dusk, I watched a mammal swimming and feeding
> > for several minutes in the Shoveler Pond at Montlake. I believe it was a
> > nutria (certainly not a beaver or otter!), though I don't have any
> > experience distinguishing nutria and muskrats. This animal gave me the
> > impression of being like an aquatic marmot.
> >
> > Doug Dorer
> >
> >
>
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Korpi "It's nice to be nice to the nice."
Hm: Portland, OR --Maj. Frank Burns
Wk: Clark College
Vancouver, WA
rkorpi at clark.edu