OLYMPIA — Federal wildlife agents called in to shoot nutria around Capitol Lake killed just one of the swimming rodents after the first week of after-dark hunting of the nuisance animals.
State officials told The Olympian the wildlife agents saw 12 animals and shot one.
The state department that manages the park around the downtown lake called the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help limit that impact of nutria that have invaded the embankments around the lake.
The beaver-sized animals that originated in South America are known for burrowing, even under roadbeds, and damaging structures and vegetation.
About 3 dozen of the animals, which have orange teeth and white whiskers, are believed to be living around the lake. The Department of Enterprise Services wants to remove the animals from the park.
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