Do people in Louisiana eat nutria?

Nutria, also known as coypu, are large semi-aquatic rodents that are native to South America. They were introduced to Louisiana in the 1930s for fur farming. Since then, nutria have become an invasive species in the state’s wetlands. Their destructive feeding habits damage marshes and coastal areas. As a result, Louisiana has had to implement nutria control programs to manage the population. This has led some people to ask: do people in Louisiana eat nutria? The short answer is yes, some people in Louisiana do eat nutria. Though it is not a mainstream food, nutria is occasionally hunted and consumed in parts of Louisiana.

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What are nutria?

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are large, semi-aquatic rodents that weigh 12-20 pounds when fully grown. They have coarse brown fur, rounded tails, and orange buck teeth. Nutria are native to South America and live in wetlands, along rivers, lakes, and coastlines. They are herbivores that eat aquatic plants like cattails, reeds, and sedges.

Nutria were originally introduced to Louisiana in the 1930s by fur farmers. Their soft underfur was used in the fur industry. However, the nutria fur market declined and many nutria escaped or were released into the wild. With few natural predators, their population exploded in Louisiana’s wetlands. Today, it is estimated there are 5-20 million nutria just in Louisiana.

Why are nutria considered invasive and detrimental in Louisiana?

Nutria cause extensive damage to Louisiana’s fragile coastal wetlands. Their destructive feeding habits undermine marsh ecosystems:

Nutria devour the roots and rhizomes of plants, killing vegetation.
This leads to erosion as dead plants no longer anchor and hold soil in place.

Nutria dig burrows into levees which compromises flood protection infrastructure.
Grazing by nutria can convert marshes to open water, accelerating coastal loss.
Nutria compete with native muskrats and destroy habitat for other wildlife.

It is estimated that nutria damage costs Louisiana $2 million per year in coastal land loss. Marsh loss also threatens important fisheries. State officials have called nutria the “Rodent from South America” that is destroying the coast.

Nutria Control Programs in Louisiana

To combat these impacts, Louisiana implemented nutria control programs starting in 2002. These programs encourage trapping and remove nutria from coastal marshes. Some key initiatives include:

Coastwide Nutria Control Program – pays trappers by the tail for each nutria captured.

Incentive Payment Program – additional pay for nutria trapped in priority coastal zones.
Nutria Harvest and Wetlands Conservation Program – creates nutria control and wetlands restoration projects.

Thanks to these programs, over 1.5 million nutria have been removed from Louisiana wetlands to date. The goal is to harvest 400,000 nutria each year. Removing nutria has helped reduce damage and protect vulnerable coastlines.

Do People Eat Nutria in Louisiana?

Yes, some people in Louisiana do eat nutria meat. Though it is not a mainstream food, nutria is occasionally hunted and consumed, especially in rural Cajun communities. Here are some facts about eating nutria in Louisiana:

Nutria meat is lean and high in protein, low in fat and cholesterol. It tastes similar to rabbit or duck.
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, nutria became a free source of meat for poor trappers.

Eating nutria is still most common among trappers who sell the furs but keep the meat.
Some restaurants in Louisiana have put nutria meat dishes on the menu, from nutria spaghetti to deep fried nutria.
Chefs have promoted nutria as a locally sourced, sustainable meat and a way to combat the invasive species.

Nutria meat and products have also been donated to Louisiana food banks to feed the needy.

So while not yet mainstream, eating nutria has a long history in Louisiana. Consuming this invasive rodent helps control their numbers while providing a free source of meat.

Nutria Hunting in Louisiana

Hunting nutria provides one way to obtain nutria meat. Here are some key facts about nutria hunting in Louisiana:

Resident hunting licenses are required and nutria have no closed season or bag limit.
Most hunting occurs in the coastal marshes and swamplands using rifles or shotguns.
Hunting at night with lights is effective since nutria are nocturnal.

Some airboat tours combine nutria spotting with other marsh wildlife viewing.
Nutria can be hunted year-round which provides an off-season hunting opportunity.
Nutria pelts can be sold but the meat is kept for personal use or donated.

Nutria tournaments have also been organized in Louisiana where hunters compete to bag the most nutria. The carcasses must be turned in which helps remove nutria from the ecosystem.

Preparing and Cooking Nutria Meat

Nutria meat should be handled and prepared properly to avoid any diseases. Here are some tips:

Wear rubber gloves when skinning and dressing nutria to prevent exposure to parasites.

Thoroughly cook nutria meat to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill any parasites or bacteria.
Cool meat completely before freezing. Nutria meat can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Most nutria meat is used in stews, gumbos, sausage, and spaghetti dishes.

Young nutria make for more tender meat while older nutria require slow cooking.
Add seasoning to mask any strong flavor. Recommended spices include cayenne, garlic, paprika, and pepper.
Sauté nutria meat or braise it slowly to break down connective tissue.

While not yet mainstream fare, cooking and eating this invasive rodent is one way some Louisiana trappers and hunters make use of nutria. Proper preparation and cooking helps make nutria meat palatable.

Nutria Meat for Sale

While most nutria meat is used for personal consumption, there are some commercial options for purchasing nutria meat in Louisiana:

Billy Garland with USDA approval processes and sells nutria meat and products from his facility.

Vermilion Bay Sweet sells packaged nutria sausage, pepperoni, and jerky online.
Nutria meat products can sometimes be found at butcher shops or meat markets in Louisiana parishes.
Local trappers may sell whole nutria carcasses or meat directly to consumers.

Specialty restaurants may offer nutria dishes made with locally sourced meat.

However, commercial availability remains limited. Consumers may need to obtain nutria meat directly from hunters and trappers in their area.

Nutria Consumption Controversy

Eating Louisiana nutria has raised some health concerns and controversies:

Nutria are carriers of parasites and diseases if not properly cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.
USDA inspectors did not recommend eating large quantities of nutria meat.
Wildlife groups argued serving nutria meat could undermine coastal restoration efforts if the animal became seen as a food source.

Trapping rather than eating nutria is still the main focus of state-funded control programs.

So while some people eat nutria, the state does not officially promote it as a food. Removing and destroying trapped nutria is still the primary control method. Any consumption or commercial use of nutria meat requires proper approval and preparation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while not yet a mainstream food choice, some people in Louisiana do eat nutria meat. Trappers may keep nutria for personal consumption, and the meat has appeared in dishes at a few restaurants. Proper handling of nutria carcasses and thoroughly cooking the meat is important to prevent any diseases. However, eating nutria remains controversial and Louisiana still focuses on trapping as the main control method rather than promoting it as a food source. While limited, consumption does provide an alternative use for this invasive species that causes extensive wetland damage in the state.