The American fishing and nature service urges Americans to fill their stomachs with invasive species that destroys habitats throughout the country.
As part of the National Invasive species Awareness Week, which ends on Friday, the agency has released a list of five invasive beings that encourage people to hunt and eat as a way to protect native species.
“Some of the greatest ecological nightmares are animals that do not belong here,” wrote the USFWS in public advice that was released at the end of last week. “Invasive species surpass indigenous animals in the wild, destroyed habitats and crushing ecosystems. But instead of just complaining about it, let's put them on the menu. “
'Something from a disaster film'
At the top of the list is the Nutria, a large, water -loving rodent that looks like a beaver without the trademark flat tail. Nutria is native to the swamps of South America. They were brought to the US in the 1930s by fur traders and many were released in the wild after the Nutria Fur market dried up. Since then, Nutria has been a threat in swamps in different regions of the country – especially along the Gulf coast, but also on the Atlantic coast and in the Pacific Northwest and parts of California.
Nutria is a perfect example of how the introduction of an invasive species can throw away the delicate balance that has developed in vulnerable ecosystems of evolution for centuries. They are vorarively herbivores that can use up to a quarter of their body weight in one day. They eat so much that they can destroy the local plant species that keep marsh land stable.
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“Their non -stop chewing and digging destroy the plants that keep swamps stable, leading to erosion, loss of habitat and wetlands that look like something from a disaster film,” wrote the usfws in a Facebook message.
Together with the federal government, at least five states have launched Nutria output programs over the past 25 years that have significantly reduced the damage that these beings cause. In the year 2000, an estimated 100,000 hectares of Louisiana Wetlands was destroyed per year, according to the Ministry of Wildlife and Fisheries of the State. Last year that figure had fallen to only 5,500 hectares.
Government reaches hope that the attraction of a tasty meal can encourage local hunters to support their anti-Nutria campaign. The USFWS describes Nutria meat as lean and mild, with a taste comparable to “rabbit or even the dark meat of a turkey.”
A cookbook published in 1963 gives a list of almost two dozen Nutria recipes, including chicken fried Nutria and Macaroni-Nutria casserole. The state of Louisiana has even shared a recipe for smoked Nutria and Andouille Sausage Gumbo.
The US Department of Agriculture recognizes more than 200 invasive species that exist throughout the country. That list includes land animals, marine animals, insects, plants and even viruses. Most entries are inedible or unattractive to eat.
The other edible, or even downright tasty creatures on the USFWS list are the Northern Snakehead -VIS, the green iguana, different types of invasive carp and wild pigs.
The agency urges everyone to hunt an invasive species to check with the local authorities to ensure that it is legal where they live and to do special care when preparing the meat to prevent a risk of being transferred by food when you are dealing with Wild Game.
