nutria

noun nu·tria \ ˈnü-trē-ə , ˈnyü- \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of nutria

1 : the durable usually light brown fur of a nutria

2 : a large South American semiaquatic rodent (Myocastor coypus) with webbed hind feet and a round nearly hairless tail that has been introduced into parts of Europe, Asia, and North America

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Recent Examples of nutria from the Web

In fact, alligators may help reduce land loss by eating nutria, an invasive rodent that damages about 6,000 acres of marshland each year.

— tristan baurick, NOLA.com, "Don't blame gators for coastal land loss: report," 25 Jan. 2018
With damage estimated at $6 million, the Parish Council in 1995 took up then-Sheriff Harry Lee on his offer to pick off nutria with rifles.

— drew broach, NOLA.com, "Nutria in Jefferson Parish drainage canals to stay in SWAT crosshairs," 15 May 2018
No, son, nutria are invasive rodents devouring our wetlands.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "The latest weight-loss craze? A 'nutria coach'!," 17 Apr. 2018
Since March of 2017, more than 20 nutria have been spotted in California’s Merced, Fresno and Stanislaus counties.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "California Is Asking Residents to Report Sightings of Giant, Invasive Rodents," 14 Feb. 2018
In some spots, nutria have contaminated drinking water supplies.

— kurtis alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, "Nutria crackdown: California looks to eradicate ruinous rodent before it tears up state," 9 Feb. 2018
Before the land eroded, the family raised cattle and trapped muskrats and nutria there.

— sara sneath, NOLA.com, "As Louisiana's coast washes away, state cashing in on disputed oil and gas rights," 31 May 2018
Your California cousins may soon be hitting you up for nutria recipes.

— tristan baurick, NOLA.com, "As nutria invade the West Coast, Californians wonder 'should we eat them?': report," 30 Mar. 2018
The destructive invasive swamp rodents known as nutria are officially on the doorstep of one of the state's most critically important waterways.

— ryan sabalow, sacbee, "Destructive swamp rodents are knocking on the Delta's door. Is it time to panic? | The Sacramento Bee," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nutria.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.