Abstract:
Three marsh dwellers, the native muskrat, nutria, and beaver, live in North Carolina. The nutria is a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America. The animal was introduced into the country in the 1930s; private interests released it in North Carolina in 1941. Nutria weigh between 15 and 20 pounds, have grayish-brown fur, a long, round tail with little hair, and are strictly vegetarian.