Florida is home to more than 600 non-native species. This is due to the tropical climate that allows many of these species to thrive. Some of these invasive species include Cuban tree frogs, Asian swamp eels and Mexican red-bellied squirrels. Every one of these species has a different story as to how they came to become part of Florida, but most are harmless and have found their place in the Florida ecosystem. Well, now a new species may now be joining the ranks of Florida’s invasive species. The real life “R.O.U.S.” is now starting to call part of central Florida home.

A wildlife facility near Gainesville had five of their capybaras escape in 1995. This area is now home to near 50 capybaras that is likely result of the original five that escaped in 1995. This South American large rodent has no natural predators in the United States and there is little known information on how their rising presence in Florida will affect the natural habitat. These creatures can get up to the size of a large dog. They normally live in groups although they can live solitary. Florida also makes a good home for them as they only reproduce in water and if the female doesn’t want to mate with a certain male, then she will completely submerge herself or just get out of the water.

Let me tell you, these creatures are amazingly adorable. They are like a guinea pig that is unnecessarily large. It has no right to be that big, but there it is existing in all of its large dog sized glory. Not only are they just cute, but they are also apparently have a super sweet social nature. Some people even have these creatures as pets. If you look on YouTube there is a large variety of videos of cute capybaras showing off their cuteness.

Although these wonderful gifts to the world may be known as the real life “R.O.U.S.,” they are nowhere near as mean as the ones depicted in "The Princess Bride." So, everybody welcome this adorable and friendly large guinea pig into Florida (at least until we are told that it will harm the environment).