NYP: Turns out these giant rat relatives do give a crap about your fancy-shmancy suburban enclave.
Capybaras have invaded an affluent gated community — chewing up flower beds, bullying beloved pets and pooping all over manicured lawns, much to the chagrin of wealthy residents of one Buenos Aires suburb. However, environmentalists say the animals actually once roamed free on the land — so they are just taking back what’s theirs.
Considered the world’s largest rodents, capybaras are indeed native to the upscale neighborhood of Nordelta in Argentina, as well as much of South America at large. But when developers cleared out 3,000 acres of critical wetlands on the banks of the Paraná River to create this community of multimillion-dollar homes in the late 1990s, the capybara population all but vanished from their original habitat.
However, La Nación has reported that the capy-able creatures, otherwise known as carpinchos in the region, are back with a vengeance to reclaim their homeland — to the detriment of lush landscaping throughout Nordelta. more here
SNIP: OK look. I know they’re annoying but they’re cute. 😂
[But not as cute as a Coatimundi.]
We seem to have a similar problem right here in America.
Resettle homeless and illegals to Martha’s Vineyard and similar neighborhoods.
They would all stave because the Democrats would never spend their own money, they just want to spend ours.
Taste like chicken.
Nowhere in the article does it say if they’re good to eat. Andean people eat guinea pigs, so I don’t see why Argentines shouldn’t eat capinches. Butterfly a few, pop ’em on the parilla, then sprinkle liberally with chimichurri and coarse salt!
BTW, another thing about that article: it wouldn’t be HOMIcide, it would be RODENTIcide.
@MJA — My sister’s next door neighbors in Rio do Janeiro had a pet coati. When we were on our roof deck, it would look down at us from their higher deck, and long tendrils of ropy mucus would drip from its nose. “Cute” wasn’t a word that came to mind.
Same damned thing happened at the White House back in January.
Not too different than the homeless in SF
Egads. They’re bigger than my dogs!
Shoot ’em !
Vultures have to eat too.
I swear, stationed in Panama those little buggers know when you’re headed back to the barracks with food and when you’re not. I’m convinced they understood English. Friendly as anything. Surprised to see one in a canyon west of Tucson.
Uncle Al – LMAO. Ewwwww… See, I’ve been around them and never noticed that happening.
judgeroybean- That’s the truth. 🤣
I’m hoping to see a Moose, live, one day. But you know… not up close.
They look like several different animals on one body.
judgeroybean- when were you in Panama? What years?
Was Wesley anywhere around to kill that ROUS?
MJA – I meant to post this the other day on the video of the cat sliding. It reminded me of these playful moose twins with Mom watching over them. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNy9jTeolUk
Not very nutritional from what I hear.
Hey Brad. How about a hunt?
Hanoverfist
I’m in. Or maybe some Hogs from a helicopter in Texas. That looks like too much fun.
I believe these critters are the number one food source for really large Boa constrictors in that part of the world.
People in Cajun country in Louisiana catch and eat nutria which are great big giant rodents.
The Catholic Church proclaimed them fish a few decades ago so the locals could eat them on Fridays and not feel bad about it.
(you could look it up if you think I’m bullshitting!)
izlamo delenda est …
geoff, ever hear this story? I think Mcilhenny stepped in it when he brought nutrias into La.
https://www.treehugger.com/is-the-tabasco-family-responsible-for-an-infestation-of-nutria-4862551
First time I ever heard of nutrias was in one of the big Vietnam Era movies, either Platoon or FMJ. A Cajun got a package from home and shared with the platoon. They were all chowing down and complimenting him on the tasty home cooked treats, then one of them had to ask what it was.
They are also native to Northern Uruguay and get seen along the banks of most rivers and streams. Wild animals are dangerous, the carpinchos bite and the spiky fur is not fun to grab. One of the restaurants in Carrasco had one with a collar and dog run in front of the establishment, it was sort of domesticated but skittish. They make a bleating braying sound that just grates on the eardrums. Not a good pet no matter how “cute” they look. And yes, the natives of the Amazon do eat them.