Based on a known population of around 50 capybara in northern Florida, Congdon believes the species could be thriving and dispersing throughout the state's waterways. Go figure! [1] However, this list is concerned with the species that, as exotic pets set free in the wild, were able to stick around and multiply. A Capybara looks somewhat like a guinea pig but only a whole lot bigger. Capybara are real damn cute. The man who found it in the brush, being a run-of-the-mill Floridian, grabbed it by the neck and held it up to his friends to see how big it was. In Texas and Pennsylvania it is allowed to keep them, and in many other places, you would need to consult your local legislation to see if you need any special permit. 53rd Annual Conference of the Animal Behavior Society, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida’s resident big cat, the Florida panther (an endangered species itself), lives in South Florida, far from the burgeoning capybara community. Learn all about how these unique animals coexist with crocodiles, snakes and jaguars in the jungles of South America in our "Happy Cappy" encounter! You must consider their social needs because they are a social animal. They are difficult to control, to say the least, as they are basically one giant muscle. Some of the religious rituals put emphasis on the juice of these snails. It consumes at least 500 types of plants and causes permanent damage to the plaster and stucco of buildings. While these critics couldn't provide evidence that pythons weren't wreaking havoc on Florida's ecosystems (they are), they were certain that killing them was the wrong answer. Capybara voyeur Elizabeth Congdon, a scientist at Bethune-Cookman University, tells The Verge why capybaras are fascinating to study in the wild — and why we shouldn't get one as a pet. "They might be able to make a go of it in the United States.". Like the nutria, it's possible that Florida's capybara could ravage aquatic ecosystems by overgrazing, and disrupt the marshy areas along riverbanks. Florida now has a capybara ... South American mammal was accidentally released in Florida (meaning, someone's pet ... that there are at least 50 currently living in the Florida wilds. As a result of their continued population growth, Florida hunters have trained bloodhounds to track them down at night. Others have seen them feeding along the banks of local rivers. In fact, capybara are so endearing, that some people may have been importing them to own as pets. To supply the high demand, they were bred in captivity. In about a year’s time, hunters have bagged 1,000 pythons. Four million wild boars have spread across the United States, but in Florida alone, there are half a million. They can be wonderful exotic pets for the right person. However, if they feel threatened or provoked, they will use their giant teeth to defend themselves and may bite. . Capybaras are grazers and prefer a large, enclosed yard that is safe and has plenty of grass for them to nibble on. If capybara are free from natural predators, they could also displace native wildlife that occupy similar ecological niches. That same year, one was killed on Interstate 10. The Capybara is the largest rodent in the world - it kind of looks like a giant guinea pig.However, unlike its smaller cousin, (which is relatively easy to keep as a pet), the capybara will need some very specific care. Having feces flung at you from a primate is horrifying enough without the fear of contracting herpes, thank you very much. We’re talking a 20-centimeter-long (8 in) snail that’s 10 centimeters (4 in) in diameter. When I met this capybara there was an instant bond. 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