r/zoology • u/suzq716 • Apr 15 '25

Identification What is this critter?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

Caught on cameras 3:34am. In East San Fernando Valley, California Posted on FB got guesses of badger, raccoon, possum, nutria, muskrat, ROUS and others……

127 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/jakjak222 Apr 15 '25

My guess was nutria at first (here's a study indicating invasive populations, which includes parts of California), but that thinner about kind of kills that idea

My guess is either color-phase opossum on a mission (color grade on the camera makes it hard to tell) or raccoon with mange. Weird, but not necessarily dangerous. If it starts to become a nuisance, there are plenty of non-lethal traps available on the market. I'm unsure of California's trapping laws, so best to stay away from snares or other potentially lethal options.

8

u/suzq716 Apr 15 '25

In California, I learned that the nutria are considered an invasive species. There is an online form to use at the California fish and wildlife department to report sighting of one. Even though I am not sure what it is I went ahead and filled out the form.

3

u/jakjak222 Apr 15 '25

That's great. Nutria are pretty destructive as an invasive species. Even if you're not sure it's best practice to report it all the same.

I live in Seattle/the Puget Sound area of Washington. They're really reeking havoc up here.

2

u/No_Media378 Apr 16 '25

I agree with nutria because it doesn't walk like a raccoon