California authorities suspected people of intentionally importing nutrients into the state.

California authorities fear that the sudden appearance of nine-kilogram nutria, which were considered exterminated, may be directly related to humans. This was reported on April 11 by the New York Post (NYP) newspaper, citing sources.

"Perhaps someone thought that they could be an effective natural way to control aquatic vegetation on their private property. In addition, some people just really like nutria. <...> Or it could have been done with malicious intent," said Michael Buchalski, head of research on genetics.

Nutria are classified as category A pests. They were bred worldwide in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for the fur trade, but after a decrease in demand, the rodents were released into the wild. At the end of the last century, nutria was completely eliminated in California. However, in 2017, they reappeared in the state.

According to the publication, an extensive DNA analysis was conducted to determine the origins of the rodents. As a result of the experiment, it was found that the DNA of the discovered nutrients is associated with rodents from Oregon, and not with a species that once lived in California.

"Genetic studies suggest that the current invasion of nutria in California was the result of deliberate repopulation, with the source animals likely being transported from a population in central Oregon," the California Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (CDFW) said in a statement.

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Earlier, on January 19, it was reported that in India, at the clinic of the Gonda State Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, a pack of rats invaded a hospital room. Naser Salim, a representative of the Samajwadi party, noted that such incidents require investigation and immediate corrective measures.

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