A new source of sustenance has been added to the California diet. Wildlife agencies are urging locals to eat an invasive rodent that’s wreaking havoc on the ecosystem: Nutria. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted the message “EAT ME! PLEASE! I’m invasive and delicious!” on their Facebook page, advising people to start hunting and eating nutria. Nutria are big, semi-aquatic rodents that are native to South America. It’s an invasive species that destroys plants and marshes, leading to erosion and loss of habitat. Erin Higgins, a digital strategist at the Fish and Wildlife Service suggested a Louisiana tradition: “Nutria Gumbo.” She went on to say that the rodent’s meat is lean, mild and tastes like rabbit. Of course, there’s been some pushback from residents, who have taken to social media to post their opinions. One commenter wrote: “I would eat a log of things, but I draw the line at giant rats!” Higgins also said that the northern snakehead, green iguana, invasive carp, and feral hogs are other species that need to be eradicated by fork.
