What animal is this?

(You may have read this post before, as it was originally published several years ago. It has proved to be one of the most viewed during my time blogging. As I have gained several new subscribers, I thought it might be interesting to update and reblog.)

Is this an otter, a beaver, a giant rat or something else?

Well done, if you said ‘coypu’ or ‘ragondin’!

Neither of these possibilities were actually on my radar until I saw them swimming in the Canal du Midi. I thought they looked quite cute. However, further research would suggest that for many people this is not the case.

Coypu are native to South America and were originally introduced to France and the UK for their fur. They have webbed rear feet and orange coloured front teeth.

They are  semi aquatic rodents who  feast on vegetation and burrow into river banks. Both these actions can cause serious damage to the environment.  They also carry leptospirosis. These are just some of the reasons they are viewed as pests.

There are a variety of ways in which these animals can be culled but I won’t go into the various methods in this post.

I have never seen it on any menus, but my research revealed several possible recipes for ragondin. These included pâté and stew… Not sure myself.

This photo of a coypu was taken near the Canal du Midi towpath, close to the port in Castelnaudary. He – or she – didn’t seem at all perturbed by the passersby on foot or on boats.

Have you seen a ragondin/coypu? What do you think about them: a pest or cute? I’d love to know.