Three years ago a Fort Worth park had a literal giant rat problem.

A large population of nutria rodents, that weigh between 17 to 20 pounds, made their home at Krauss Baker Park in 2020 and grew in number as people fed them.

Nutria are large, grayish-brown rodents that are nearly as large as beavers and have a long, rat-like tail and webbed hind feet.

One headline said “Fort Worth, Don’t Feed the Giant Swamp Rats.” But now the famous nutria in Baker Park apparently have a fan club feeding them dog food @KaleyAJohnson @HowertonNews Suzie Torres video pic.twitter.com/1YA1q4yub4

— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) August 8, 2020

Native to South America, the nutria were introduced to the southeastern United States in 1938, according to the Texas Tech University Natural Science Research Laboratory.

The swamp rodents are considered an invasive species, building burrows that can weaken roads, stream banks and dams. In coastal areas they can destroy wetland areas and encroach on the North American native muskrat.

Because the swamp rats are an exotic species and would only damage other environments if relocated, the fate of the Fort Worth nutria was extermination.

Are nutria still a problem in Texas?

Nutria, also known as coypus, have appeared throughout Texas around aquatic habitats, mostly in the eastern two-thirds of the state, however their population is spreading.

They are listed among the “most unwanted” animals in the state, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The swamp rodent’s population is moderately high and on the rise in Texas, according to Texas Tech University’s research laboratory. The nutria’s range is expanding and could likely spread to more areas in the state.

The Texas Invasive Species Institute estimates the average loss from damage to sugarcane and rice crops caused by nutria ranges from several thousand dollars to over a million each year.