(Fort White-Florida)  Well the little known secret has been out for years. North Florida has a new invasive species from South America, the Capybara which resembles a huge 100 pound guinea pig and the Capybara did not swim to Florida it was introduced into  Florida’s landscapes by hurricanes causing damage to zoos, tourist attraction centers all across the state. The web site saveoursuwanee.org states “The jaguarundi andcapybara, immigrants from Central America, are seen occasionally along the Suwannee.

It is well known that the Capybara now reside in San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park I am just starting to wonder why no effort has taken place to eradicate this animal before it gets out of control like Florida’s out of control half million feral hog problem.

I have been keeping records on Capybara sightings since 1998 in the area  and at one time had a customer look at me strange when I suggested they had a nutria problem and then I showed them a pic of a nutria and they shook their heads and said no it looked like this .

I have been on the trail of the capybara lately or better yet looking for a trail or sign of them by canoe and on land from Bible camp Road back into the River Sink region of the Santa Fe. I know today that it was probably capybara and not nutria that destroyed some river property near Rum Island State park.

I have it on good authority the caybara have not found Ichetucknee Springs State Park which already has a resident beaver and feral hog problem that seems to never go away!

I will be looking for sign  soon between River Rise and the Suwanee River and please anyone with a Capybara sighting please leave a message at 352-575-0121 we want to know how many , when and where you seen them. Photos or video would be awesome.

Here are a few facts I would like to share with the public and the first one if you see them leave them alone. The capybara is a large land mammal that is very fast and can leave a very painful bite you will never forget. When confronted the capybara may charge you  if you try to corner one or run into nearby water.

The Capybara can hold their breath for as much as 5 minutes under water and can actually sleep with just their nostrils extended underwater and compound that with being a nocturnal animal very hard to find. I imagine Capybara probably look similar to small Manatee underwater to the untrained eye.

Anyone interested in stopping the Capybara before it too late please call.I am putting together a small team of trappers, biologists, helicopter pilots and a veterinarian  to find our local Capybara  population and help me help Florida, North Florida to be rid of this pest before it is too late.

The Nutria have very distinctive orange teeth.

If you have a nuisance Capybara or nutria problem on private property please call we are Cabybara , Beaver and Nutria Trappers

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