Nutria, an invasive rodent species from South America, has made its way to various states in the U.S., threatening human and animal health and causing significant environmental damage. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is urging citizens to hunt and eat nutria to help control the population and mitigate these risks. Nutria are known to destroy wetlands, leading to habitat loss, and can carry diseases harmful to humans and pets. With no natural predators in the U.S., their populations can rapidly grow, making immediate action crucial for preservation efforts.
They host hosting potentially deadly diseases such as tuberculosis and septicemia, and they are destroying wetlands.
Their nonstop munching and burrowing destroy the plants that keep marshes stable, leading to erosion, loss of habitat, and wetlands that look like something out of a disaster movie.
The agency explained that the animal's meat has been compared to the taste of a rabbit or dark meat of turkey, saying it makes for a good gumbo.
The rodents are usually found near permanent water sources and have large bright orange teeth as well as a white muzzle and whiskers.
Collection
[
|
...
]