The metre-long rat-like coypu has been spreading beyond a small Cork river.
The public have been asked to report sightings of the mammal as it is on a list of major environmental concerns across the EU.
The reactions to our new furry friend have been absolutely gas, from sheer terror to wanting to keep the "big ol doggo rat" as a pet.
Others have suggested putting them on our menus.
Probably not the next big foodie trend but, then again, stranger things have happened.
Had coypu pâté once in France. I'm sure we could market it to foodies
— David Dinsmore (@daviddinsmore12) May 15, 2017
Thought a coypu was something you do at a house party on the sly.
— Rory Gleeson (@RoryRua) May 15, 2017
I'll get in on the ground floor: please send ur coypu recipes for my forthcoming Invasive Species Cookbook.https://t.co/lF3IIpQoxi via @rte
— A. Jamie Saris (@jamie_saris) May 15, 2017
BREAKING: Rat-like coypu to join Cork Senior hurling team.
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) May 15, 2017
What if a coypu came into your room though?
— Laoiseface (@Laoiseface) May 15, 2017
The coypu: just one species who aren't afraid to fight the Lee Wall @savecorkcity pic.twitter.com/L7qtlGjwpE
— Evin Ryan (@youknowitsevin) May 15, 2017
Sure listen before we know it, we'll wonder how we ever survived without the coypu.
— Rachael English (@EnglishRachael) May 15, 2017
Forget the Coypu, I've found the lesser spotted Pugpu pic.twitter.com/CAYMgXmDcZ
— Róisín Thornhill 🧩 (@RoisinThornhill) May 15, 2017
What about eating them? The Nutria and the Coypu are basically the same animal https://t.co/rx2bpdpyYB
— John Jefferies (@jefferiesjj) May 15, 2017
Coypu haiku
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) May 15, 2017
These exotic rats
In Cork waters are swimming
Webbed feet and all that pic.twitter.com/fBldx1hUgs