Nutria, called coypu elsewhere in the world, are large rodents that live in and out of river water. These creatures can weigh up to 35 pounds - the size of a medium dog - and have webbed hind feet for swimming. They are easily identified by their bright orange front teeth - great for eating reeds and aquatic plants!

Nutria live in South America, but were introduced to the United States in the 1930s and 40s - they have since become known as an invasive species, or pest, due to their ability to quickly eat up wetland plants. Nutria farms were set up in Louisiana, where farmers hoped to sell the animals for meat and fur, but the idea of nutria farms never really took off. Who wants to eat a river-rat sandwich and who wants to wear a rat hat? Now with all the nutria in Louisiana's wetlands, they post a bit of a problem, they eat more of the South's marshes than can be replaced naturally.

"I’m not a beaver, okay?  I may look like a beaver, but I’m much smarter if you ask me. I know all about important stuff like renewable energy. Not because I help to produce it, but because I spend so much time around nuclear plants and hydroelectric dams. The water near power plants is nice and warm - and I like it that way. There's plenty of marshland to munch on. I can swim and float all day! While I'm swimming around these waters, I'm taking time to learn all about my surroundings and important things - like energy! Now beavers? They just build silly dams."