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Invasive Animals






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Invasive Animals

Certain animals within the Brazos River basin are trouble.

These invasives destroy ecosystems, steal water, cause harm to native species, damage infrastructure and the environment, and hinder recreation.

Besides zebra mussels, the most common invasive animals in the Brazos River basin are feral hogs and nutria.

Invasive species, which can be plants or animals, are not native to a particular area and can cause economic and ecological damage and impact human health. When non-native species are introduced, they have few natural predators, competitors, or diseases that control their populations.

The Brazos River Authority’s Environmental Services Department regularly monitors different animals as a way of tracking the health of the Brazos River basin ecosystem. When the results of this monitoring begin to show changes, the BRA, along with state and federal partners, work together to identify the cause of changes and make improvements that can aid the continued health and quality of the basin’s water supply.

Learn more about the invasive animals below:



Feral Hogs

Feral Hogs

The Sus scrofa are found in every Texas county except El Paso County. But you probably know them by a different name: the feral hog.

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Nutria

Nutria

Weighing up to 22 pounds and living up to 10 years, these large semi-aquatic animals can swim underwater and are agile on land.

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Zebra Mussels

Zebra Mussels

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are small mussels with, you guessed it, zebra-like striping on their shells.

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