"Wildlife Watching in Walzbach" Weingarten Things to Do Tip by Kathrin_E

Walzbach is the stream that runs through the village. It is canalized with stone walls, but the stretch downstream from the main bridge has grassy banks. Here, in the very centre of the village, is the best spot to observe the animals that live in the stream.

Ducks, obviously. There is hardly an open water without wild ducks hereabouts. There are mallards and mixes with domestic races. (Please don't feed them, you are not doing them any good.) Cutest in spring and early summer when the little ducklings are there.

There is another species at home in Walzbach and if you are lucky you get to see them: nutrias or coypus (not to be confused with muskrats, which look similar but are a different species). These large rodents originate in South America. They were and still are bred in Europe for their fur. Some escaped, some were set free on purpose, so the species established in the wild although the Central European climate is not perfect for them. Nutrias are feeding on plants and the ducks obviously did not consider them a threat. Birds and rodents happily share the stream and its banks.

I had no idea there were nutrias in Walzbach but the large number of people who were lining up by the stream and staring into the water made me do the same, so I spotted them right below where I was standing, to my surprise and joy. A family with eight half-grown kits, cute fluffy little things...

More photos of the nutrias
Nutria video
Video of the ducklings in photo 4