Wildlife experts urge Americans to catch, cook and eat rat-like rodents
WeirdNews
Animal's meat has been compared to the taste of rabbit
(Web Desk) - An invasive rat-like rodent from South America has invaded the US, forcing officials to ask Americans to take matters into their own hands.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has urged the public to hunt, kill and eat nutria as it pose a threat to humans, livestock and pets.
These creatures host hosting potentially deadly diseases such as tuberculosis and septicemia, and they are destroying wetlands.
These animals look similar to beavers, with the distinction of highly arched backs and 'long, thin, round, sparsely haired tails rather than wide, flat tails like that of a beaver' and large orange teeth.
'Their nonstop munching and burrowing destroy the plants that keep marshes stable, leading to erosion, loss of habitat, and wetlands that look like something out of a disaster movie,' FWS shared.
The agency explained that the animal's meat has been compared to the taste of a rabbit or dark meat of turkey, saying it makes for a good gumbo.
'If your state has nutria, check your local regulations to see the rules for how to hunt, capture and then ultimately, cook these nuisance critters,' shared FWS.
The rodents are usually found near permanent water sources and have large bright orange teeth as well as a white muzzle and whiskers.
They weigh up to 20 pounds and can grow more than two feet long.
The spread across the nation is particularly alarming due to the animal's prolific reproductive rate - with females giving birth to as many as 27 offspring per year.
They also breed all year round, producing two to three litters each with two to nine young per litter. There is no natural predator keeping its population in check.
They are also carriers for blood and liver flukes that can lead to infection through exposure to contaminated water, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
California officials sounded the alarm about the invasive species last year after thousands were spotted in the state,
Officials reported nearly 1,000 nutria had been hunted down in the Bay Area alone.
