Capybara Spotted At Paso Robles Treatment Plant In California

On July 22, Nick Kamp, a wastewater operator, reported seeing a capybara at the Paso Robles Wastewater Treatment Plant in California. According to MSNBC, he took picsof the animal, and described, "It had the body of a pig, but it had a longer nose and head to it." He said that the animal seemed calm, and swam with its head above and below the water.

California is a long way from South America, so how did this big boy get to California? It's believed the capybara is an escaped pet, although the animal cannot legally be kept without a special permit.

So, this got me thinking. What's the deal? We have our beloved Nutria Rats down here and it's no biggie. Well, the National Zoo's website writes that capybaras are grazing herbivores, and can weigh over 100 pounds! That's a big rat.