California water officials warn of ‘two-faced creature’
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued a comical warning on Wednesday about a “two-faced creature” known as the nutria, a rodent said to look like a cross between a rat and a beaver. The nutria—recognizable by its vibrant orange teeth—is native to South America and was introduced to the United States in the 1800s as part of the fur trade. However, once the trade plummeted, nutrias began to wreak havoc on U.S. coastal environments they populated and have posed a problem ever since. Maryland spent millions working to eradicate the species, and other states are considering following suit. However, the species isn’t just an East Coast problem. The DWR issued the warning in the form of an educational poster for California Invasive Species Action Week depicting two nutrias. One looks sweet and cuddly and sports a halo with the words “I am so cute” nearby. The other has red eyes and the characteristic vibrant orange teeth with the words “But I am a monster.”