The Guardian reports that California wildlife officials are encouraging residents to help curb the state’s growing nutria problem by eating them. The Nutria, a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America, is wreaking havoc on California’s wetlands, destroying habitats and outcompeting native wildlife. Officials hope that promoting Nutria as a food source will help control the population.
A few months ago, TMZ had a story on Nutria. What has changed?
Nutria were first introduced to the U.S. for the fur trade but have since spread to 18 states. Although thought to be eradicated from California in the 1970s, their population rebounded in 2017, particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and surrounding wetlands. The rodents, which can grow up to 40 inches long, consume up to 25% of their body weight daily, devastating marsh vegetation, destabilizing soil, and accelerating erosion.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) removed about 5,500 Nutria from state wetlands in early February, with the highest concentrations found in Merced, Fresno, Stanislaus, and Solano counties. Despite these efforts, officials stress that eradication remains challenging.
Wildlife agencies emphasize that Nutria meat is comparable to rabbit or dark turkey and have provided recipes for stews and chili on https://nutria.com/nutria-control-program/nutria-for-human-consumption/ to encourage public participation. However, they also acknowledge that eating nutria alone won’t solve the problem and must be paired with other conservation measures.
The call to eat Nutria coincided with National Invasive Species Awareness Week, during which officials also urged the consumption of other destructive species like northern snakeheads, green iguanas, wild boars, and invasive carp. While unconventional, eating invasive species is gaining traction to reduce environmental damage while offering a sustainable food source.
Whether Californians embrace Nutria cuisine remains to be seen.
