This is where the Albany Santiam Canal ducks under Southwest 25th Avenue. The photo was taken Nov. 3, 2024.
On a random bike ride in the industrial section of central Albany a month ago, I found myself on the 25th Avenue bridge across the Santiam Canal. And because of what I saw there, the subject of nutria came up.
(That, obviously, is not the news today, or any day for that matter. The big news today around here is that the Albany teacher strike is finally over and schools reopen Tuesday, Dec. 3, with a two-hour late start. Facebook and the local paper’s website are all over it. For the details, check there.)
As for the nutria: The subject came up on Nov. 3 when I stopped the bike and walked around the area near that bridge on 25th Avenue. There was a dead one lying there, on the ground, a few feet from the canal itself.
Every once in a while over the years, people in Albany have complained about these big rodents getting into their yards, destroying their gardens, or frightening small dogs.
In response, the City of Albany posted information about nutria on its website in 2019. If you want to look it up, it’s still there.
One part of the city notice deals with getting rid of the animals when they become a nuisance:
“In Oregon, nutria are classified as unprotected nongame wildlife. That means they can be trapped and killed; they cannot be relocated. Property owners don’t need a license to control nutria on their property. Albany prohibits discharging a firearm within the city limits, but a pellet gun or bow and arrow may be used as long as the projectiles don’t leave the property.”
Nutria like to build their burrows in steep banks of waterbodies. That describes the banks of the Santiam Canal. So no doubt that’s where the one lying on the bank was at home when it was still alive. (hh)
Nutria are a potentially harmful invasive species, but this one was no longer doing any harm.
OMG! Sometimes google leads to a place you probably don’t want to go to.
“Swamp Rat Pulled Pork Recipe”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTytYDSxJiI
Merry Christmas to all.
Bob Woods I watched the video until the end and it has given me a new perspective on Nutria.
It likely got into some rat poison. Poisoned rats head for an open area after eating rat poison. Don’t ask me why… Just a couple of days ago I was walking along 31st near Grand Prairie Park and came upon a dead rat on the side walk. Gave it a poke with my shoe and found it wasn’t even stiff yet. I started to walk on by then remembered I had a plastic bag in my pocket. I gathered it up and put it in my trash can when I got home.
Why bother? Any animal that comes by and eats on it will then be poisoned also (think for example a cat).
Thank you for picking up that dead rat. I would be too afraid to do that, but I appreciate your thoughts that it could kill other animals, especially someone’s pet..
we live near the canal in lebanon and a few years back we had a lot of them in the neighborhood. the county came by and cleaned up the canal banks and took them all out.
I live on Periwinkle creek and a couple of years ago I had a family of them in my backyard. My landlord wouldn’t do anything. She told me they were protected! (I have since found out differently) Meanwhile one could have killed one of my smaller dogs. They are nasty tempered little buggers if they think they are being threatened. I’ve heard stories that a mature adult Nutria can take apart a German Shepherd or other large dog. Luckily I was able to scoop up my brave little idiot of a dog (who thinks he’s a Rottweiler) and the other listened to my command to stay. Nobody got hurt, that day. Nutria are not my favorite mammal.
They have nutria recipes on the net. Even smoked. So as a service for those with exotic tastes– https://nutria.com/nutria-control-program/nutria-for-human-consumption/