Nutria: tasty rodents

Nutria are large semi-aquatic rodents that have been destroying the marshlands of Louisiana. They were imported to be raised for their fur, but have gone out of control in the wild. Here is a brief item about them from the National Geographic:

Loiusiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries estimates that currently over 63,000 acres (25,000 hectares) of coastal wetlands have been demolished, or chomped, by the now ubiquitous nutria. The large, marsh-loving rodent, somewhere between a muskrat and a beaver, was brought to Louisiana from South America in the 1930s for the fur industry and has since claimed Louisiana's coastal wetlands as home. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is hoping to control nutria populations by encouraging Louisianans to trap them. And eat them.

Nutria meat, also called ragondin, is likened to rabbit or dark turkey meat. It is higher in protein and lower in both fat and cholesterol than beef, chicken, and even turkey. Though nutria is difficult to find on menus, the department hopes it will one day become a popular dish and has even posted recipes on its website: http://www.nutria.com/. So remember, "Nutria: Good for You. Good for Louisiana."

Yum. Swamp rat.

I know what I'm ordering in a restaurant the next time I have the chance while visiting the South.