U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Urging Louisiana to Eat Nutria Rats

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is urging Louisianians to eat nutria rats, calling them "invasive and delicious".

Wildlife Service 5 Invasive Species List

Last week, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a statement urging U.S. residents to start hunting and eating 5 invasive species found around the U.S.

An invasive species is any living organism, like a plant, animal, insect, fungus, or bacteria, that is not native to a specific area.

Invasive species cause harm to the environment they're in, economy, and human health when introduced.

The 5 invasive species on The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's list are -

1.Northern Snakehead Fish

2. Nutria

3. The Green Iguana

4. Black, Silver, Bighead and Grass Carp

5. Feral Hogs

Read More: Louisiana Couple Cooks Fresh Nutria Over Rice for YouTuber

How Did Nutria Get To Louisiana?

Nutria showed up in Louisiana during the 1930s, brought here by fur traders.

The big plan was to farm nutria for their fur, which at the time was valuable in the fashion world.

However, in the 1940s and 50s, the fur market bottomed out and many nutria farmers simply released the nutria they had into the wild.

Some nutria escaped during hurricanes and floods.

Nutria have become an issue in Louisiana for a few reasons.

One is that nutria have no natural predators, and as such their population quickly exploded.

The other major problem with nutria is that they destroy Louisiana's wetlands, damage sugarcane crops, and compete for food with native Louisiana species such as beavers and muskrats.

So, what can do about this nutria problem in Louisiana?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is begging us to please, please start eating them.

Government Wants Louisiana To Eat Nutria Rats

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is urging folks in Louisiana to "Save a Swamp, Sauté a Nutria."

From Yahoo.com -

"Government conservationists are hoping that the appeal of a tasty meal might encourage local hunters to help support their anti-nutria campaign.

The USFWS describes nutria meat as lean and mild, with a flavor similar to 'rabbit or even the dark meat of a turkey.'"

According to foxweather.com, "nutria meat is lean and mild and tastes like rabbit – a good recipe for gumbo."

There is even a cookbook published in 1960s with nutria recipes like Chicken Fried Nutria and Macaroni-Nutria Casserole.

What do you think? Should we get over it and just start eating the heck out of nutria in Louisiana?

Read more over at yahoo.com.