Capybara in Florida?

It seems that almost any animal can make a go of it in Florida. Florida has some of the best zoos in the world because of its weather. This means a large % of living creatures can survive in our sub-tropical climate without risk of freezing or baking (like they would n a desert environment).

Anytime we get a new species introduced suddenly to our environment, it can have a bad effect. That is why these species are labeled “invasive species”. Most of the time they didn’t invade Florida, however, they were brought here and let loose by some irresponsible human.

Now you can add capybara to that list. That’s right, the giant mole/rat hybrid looking animal is loose in Florida and probably reproducing. Currently, it is reported that between 50-100 are living in the wild in northern Florida. How did they get here? It all started in 1995 when five animals escaped a wildlife facility in Gainesville.

According to Orlando Weekly, the rodent “prefers to live in tropical forest areas along rivers, lakes and marshes.” And Florida matches those qualifications perfectly. It may not be long before you see a giant rodent running across your yard or highway.

More About The Caypbara

• It is the largest living rodent in the world.
• The capybara is an herbivore.
• They can live up to 10 years but usually only live 4 years in the wild.
• They live in groups of 10-20 animals but can live in solitude.
• They can run as fast as a horse.