Florida now has a capybara problem

[snooper2]

Seriously thinking about getting one someday. We have two guinea pigs so I guess the poop is similar just bigger


http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2016/08/16/florida-now-has-a-capybara-problem?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

Joining an already robust list of invasive species, capybaras, the world's largest rodents, are now popping up in Florida.

Speaking at the 53rd Annual Conference of the Animal Behavior Society, biologist Elizabeth Congdon, of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, says a known group of capybaras are living and breeding in Northern Florida.

It's believed the semi-aquatic South American mammal was accidentally released in Florida (meaning, someone's pet escaped) sometime in the early 21st century.

The massive rodent prefers to live in tropical forest areas along rivers, lakes and marshes and it's estimated that there are at least 50 currently living in the Florida wilds.

?cb=1471435085

[Motley13]

1. At least they are cute

not like pythons & Nile monitor lizards that are killing native species.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. There's also a colony of wild monkeys living near the Fort Lauderdale airport.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/dania-beach/fl-dania-monkeys-20150821-story.html

For half a century, they have haunted the swampy forests east of Federal Highway.

The Dania Beach monkeys, African vervet monkeys thought to have been released by an old tourist attraction in the 1950s, beg bananas, mangoes and other handouts from people who live and work at the edges of their habitat.


The monkey colony has been a shadowy, little-known aspect of South Florida life, with the monkeys hiding in the almost impenetrable mangrove forests west of Port Everglades. But a Ph.D. student at Florida Atlantic University has begun shedding light on them, launching the first systematic study of them in 20 years. Her initial conclusions: Despite talk that the colony was dying out, it appears to be stable and enjoys broad popularity in the surrounding community.

"We're seeing offspring every year," said Missy Williams, who is pursuing her doctorate in integrative biology. "They seem to be doing OK. I'm finding overwhelmingly that people really enjoy the monkeys being there. They see a hint of humanity in them. It brings a sense of joy to them — they play and frolic, and people enjoy feeding them."

[bluesbassman]

14. Oh, they're actual monkeys. Thought this was going to describe a group of Trump supporters.

[Motley13]

19. I saw 2 of them running across US 1 on my way back from the airport one time.

forgot to mention the gazillion iguanas

We have had a family of Egyptian Geese visit every winter.

[Hortensis]

25. Cute, yes, but I appreciate the heads-up from Snooper2!

Our Florida place is surrounded on 2 sides by pond/marsh with more large wilderness beyond, and it's definitely Wild Kingdom out there.

So I'm very glad to learn about these guys before they just showed up. "North Florida" by map is about 5 minutes away. Typically about 100 pounds, 2 feet at the shoulder. Uhuh. (Btw, they're apparently "fast" on those wobbly little legs.)

That affectionate little guy grooming the dog clued me in right away to what I just read -- they live in groups. They're also good-natured herbivores and get along with most animals. I don't believe the nonsense about crocodiles being included; we have alligators and I don't care to see them meet. But now if a family comes visiting I won't be running for my own life.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

40. For some reasons, ducks love to flock to Capybaras.

This guy seems to be getting a nice, relaxing back massage.

[Hortensis]

41. That's so sweet. We have ducks and other water birds.

Probably shouldn't wish for a family of capybaras, but I sure wouldn't be sad if one moved in. Would apparently get along fine with the Sandhill cranes that raise their current crop of babies around our place most years.

[Warpy]

28. They are definitely cute animals, love the whiskers

and the hopping gait.

So far, Florida isn't really sure they're a problem. Apparently, destabilizing levees, earthen dams and stream banks with burrows is the biggest worry around them, although it hasn't been demonstrated as yet. They eat aquatic plants and if they demonstrate a fondness for water hyacinth (another invasive species), they'll be a beneficial introduction.

I understand the meat is good should they become a problem, overpopulating in the future. Their hides are also useful. For now, they're a hell of a cute animal that doesn't seem to be bothering anyone.

Pythons and monitor lizards are completely different. They're predators that are harming the environment.

[DetlefK]

2. Northern Germany has a wild colony of south-american rheas.

Six originally escaped from a farm in 2000. By 2015 the flock had grown to 177 animals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_rhea

[OkSustainAg]

3. I guess

pythons will start eating the Capybaras. A new animal cycle.

[Beach Rat]

4. There's something wrong with this article!

I though Florida was already home to the world's larges rodent!

[yortsed snacilbuper]

13. You should have warned people before posting that.

Gives me the creeps.

[jmowreader]

15. That's a limbed snake. Please.

[lpbk2713]

30. A hairless weasel.

...

[msanthrope]

21. That will haunt my dreams. nt

[Hortensis]

24. I agree. Opening this was a nasty shock.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. My kid loves her guinea pigs.

I think she would freak out in delight if she saw a capy walking around her backyard.

[snooper2]

7. So they are legal in Texas and Pennsylvania but other states you would have to check

From $1000- $3000 it looks like

Just like Guinea pigs they need friends, So you would have to have at least two. If you are ever in a pet store and see a guinea pig in a cage by itself they are always so sad.

http://capybarafacts.com/capybara-as-pets/

https://www.exoticanimalsforsale.net/capybara-for-sale.asp

[Motley13]

20. They eat guinea pigs in Peru, known as cuy

[NightWatcher]

8. Send in the Nutria Patrol

In New Orleans the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office used to drive around and plug the nutria late at night along the many canals and levees.

The Capybara are just bigger.

[nolabear]

9. I once rescued a dog from a nutria leg trap. I hope those days are gone.

Invasive species are a real problem sometimes. Feral pigs are among the worst. but out in NO East those nutria are serious business!

[snooper2]

10. Didn't even know what a Nutria was, apparently according to at least one chef they are good cooking!

I would post the video of it being prepared but some poster would probably get "offended" by seeing "meat"

Anyway, on YouTube check out "EDIBLE INVASIVE SPECIES: NUTRIA"

[nolabear]

11. I once tried on a nutria fur jacket and it was gorgeous.

I don't do fur but don't hate people who do. The whole rat thing does put me off though, both on the table and on my back.

[LanternWaste]

12. I'm certain your reluctance to post the video was simply to avoid offense

I'm quite certain your reluctance to post the video was simply to avoid offense rather than an irrelevant opportunity to maintain the pretense of oppression from and trivialize any animal rights groups present, as you appear to consistently avoid even the slightest offense with a most studious eagerness.

[snooper2]

17. No, it was to avoid a hidden post LOL

Did you ever answer why you repeat yourself from your subject line into the body of the post? I am SO glad people at my work don't do that with email.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

18. I was stationed in New Orleans when I was in the Coast Guard,

the Cajuns would have their Pirogues full of dead Nutria, they would eat them.



One day, while sitting on his porch, Jean-Claude saw his friend, Pierre , paddling his pirogue down the bayou:

"Hey Pierre, whachoo got deah?"

"Duck-tape!"
Pierre shouted back.

"What you gon' do with dat duck-tape?"
asked Jean-claude.

"I'm gonna catch me some ducks!"

Jean-Claude of course thought Pierre was crazy and watched Pierre continue out into the bayou.

Not long after, Pierre returned with three plump ducks in his pirogue.

The next day Jean-Claude saw Pierre again, paddling down the bayou.

"Hey Pierre! Whachoo got deah?" shouted Jean-Claude.

"Nutra-Sweet!"

"Wachoo 'gon do wit alla dat Nutra-Sweet?"

"I'm gon git me a nutria."

Jean-Claude was incredulous, but interested this time.

"You crazy, you can't catch no nutria wit no Nutra-sweet!

Pierre ignored him and continued out into the bayou.

Jean-Claude was speechless when Pierre returned with a fat nutria in his pirogue.

The next day Jean-Claude again spied Pierre paddling out into the bayou in his pirogue.

"Heyy Pierre! Whatchoo got in deah?"

"Pussywillow!" Pierre shouted back.

"HOLD ON, LEMME GET MY HAT!"

[msanthrope]

22. Okay, I laughed....nt

[Eleanors38]

31. Capybara are considered good food, with 1.5% fat content. Some Venezuelans farm-raise

them as a far less expensive alternative to non-native cattle. Others wish to export the meat. Allegedly, the hide makes a superior leather.

[DrDan]

39. With some fava beans and a nice chianti - yummi

[3catwoman3]

16. My now 26 yr old...

...older son did a report on capybaras, somewhere around 3rd grade. We were quite fascinated to learn that the Catholic church allowed the eating of cabybara meat on Fridays, with the rationale that, because it was essentially aquatic, it could be defined as a fish.

Bit of a stretch, if you ask me.

Tho one in the video obviously wants to play.

[Warpy]

29. The original justification for eating fish on fast days

was that fish didn't bleed, something anyone who has ever caught and cleaned a bunch of fish knows to be pure hooey. Queen Elizabeth I persuaded the church to increase the number of fast days per week because she needed trained sailors and didn't want to pay for their training. A huge market for salted and smoked fish would supply her with all the fishermen/sailors she could possibly ever need. It worked.

[Blue_Tires]

23. Floridians still haven't learned the lessons of invasive species...

Are they really that ignorant? Or do they just not give a shit?

[DrDan]

26. Offensive

[Blue_Tires]

34. Hey, my state is fair game when it fucks up, too...

[DrDan]

35. So insults to millions is ok - how progressive

[Blue_Tires]

36. It's not my state that has the capybara problem

so leave me out of it...

Although I do hope you as quick to defend the great Commonwealth of Virginia the next time we're in the news for the wrong reasons...

[DrDan]

38. You are the one who felt the urge to insult millions here who had nothing to do with the problem -

[Eleanors38]

32. Perhaps you consider Floridians as "invasive species."

[Blue_Tires]

37. No...

Not at all, and at no time have I said that

[JCMach1]

33. Invasive species are a world-wide problem... there are too many pet owners

opting for exotics that belong in the wild... not someone's home.

[yardwork]

42. That seems a little unfair to the entire state....

[DrDan]

27. We also have a large-rodent problem in the governor's mansion