Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Myocastor coypus
An introduced aquatic rodent. Established in Gulf Coast marshes, parts of the Atlantic coast, and pockets of the West. Not a native muskrat. Hind track shows webbing and is much larger than muskrat, about 4 to 5 inches.
What does a nutria look like?
Rat-like, large, with orange incisors and a round tail. Not a beaver.
What do nutria tracks look like?
A big webbed hind foot with a visible tail drag. Larger than muskrat, smaller than beaver, and the tail drag is narrow and round.
- Hind track shows webbing and is much larger than muskrat, about 4 to 5 inches
- Front track is a small five-fingered hand
- Tail drag is round, not the wide flat drag of a beaver
- Orange front teeth if seen
- Droppings are ridged, cylindrical, often on a floating mat
What does nutria poop look like?
Long grooved pellets, often in groups on feeding platforms. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
An introduced aquatic rodent. Established in Gulf Coast marshes, parts of the Atlantic coast, and pockets of the West. Not a native muskrat. Typical places: wetland. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Muskrat identification
- North American beaver identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell nutria from muskrat?
Nutria is much larger, has orange front teeth, and a round tail. The hind track is several inches long.
How to tell a nutria from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Muskrat. Tiny prints beside a thin tail line in mud. Brown, about muskrat-sized, with a thin tail that is flattened side to side.
- North American beaver. Look for the webbed hind print and the tail drag in mud. Brown, flat scaly tail, webbed hind feet.
Nutria field marks
- Hind track shows webbing and is much larger than muskrat, about 4 to 5 inches
- Front track is a small five-fingered hand
- Tail drag is round, not the wide flat drag of a beaver
- Orange front teeth if seen
Where the sign shows up
An introduced aquatic rodent. Established in Gulf Coast marshes, parts of the Atlantic coast, and pockets of the West. Not a native muskrat. Typical places: wetland. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
A big webbed hind foot with a visible tail drag. Larger than muskrat, smaller than beaver, and the tail drag is narrow and round. Long grooved pellets, often in groups on feeding platforms.
Common questions
How do you tell nutria from muskrat?
Nutria is much larger, has orange front teeth, and a round tail. The hind track is several inches long.