marked preference for alfalfa, clover, cabbage, and carrots, and is fond 

 of practically all root crops except white or Irish potatoes. 



Being a vegetarian, the nutria is in direct competition with migra- 

 tory waterfowl and muskrats for the natural feed in the marshes, and 

 methods looking toward control of the nutria on national wildlife refuges 

 are now being studied. 



The natural habitat of the nutria is along banks of fresh water 

 streams, ponds, and lakes, also marsh areas having an abundance of 

 aquatic plants. They may burrow into banks close to the water level. 

 Each pair makes its own burrow. They work in and up until well above 

 the water level, clear a space and deposit grasses. &s the family grows 

 the burrow is enlarged since the offspring from one pair continue to 

 live in the same burrow. If such a site is left undisturbed, in time 

 it becomes the home of a large colony. As long as the water supply is 

 sufficient and the feed plentiful the colony of nutrias will remain in 

 the same locality for a long time. 



A colony of nutrias may select a site in a marsh that has an abun- 

 dance of weeds and rushes but which lacks banks. Here floating nests 

 will be constructed of aquatic plants much after the same manner &b &ib 

 muskrats employ. Where natural conditions are favorable, part of the 

 colony may make burrows in the ground and the other part will live in 

 nests built in the marsh. 



BREEDING AND REPRODUCTION 



The breeding habits of the nutria are not so well known as those 

 of the muskrat and some other rodents. The age at which a female will 

 accept the male seems to be about 8 months, but very few females become 

 pregnant at this age. The heat period lasts from 2 to k daysc Females 

 bred at the age of 15> months are more likely to produce young success- 

 fully. At the U. s. Fur Animal Field Station, Cambridge, Maryland, the 

 gestation period was found to be 130 to 135 days. In the case of young 

 females that give birth to young for the first time the period of gesta- 

 tion seems to be less (100 to 12$ days) than for those that are suckling 

 a litter and developing another at the same time. 



The young seem to be born through all the seasons and it is estimated 

 that two or three litters are possible during the year. The number in a 

 litter varies from two to eight. Young females seem to produce smaller 

 litters than older ones. The general average seems to be about 5. The 

 young are born with a good coat of fur and at birth are in an advanced 

 state of development. In a few hours they are able to get about, and 

 after a few days they move around quite rapidly. They will leave the nest 

 for short periods and scurry about with the mother. The young also begin 

 to eat small quantities of solid food the first and second week after 

 birth. They are weaned at the age of 7 or 8 weeks. 



