Nutria, which were originally imported for the fur industry from 1899 through the 1940s, began escaping captivity shortly ...

This brown, fuzzy critter with its distinctive orange buck teeth may look cute, but it's causing all sorts of trouble— in ...

Nutria are recognized as an invasive species capable of destroying native vegetation and agricultural crops. Over the years, ...

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are relatively big rodents that grow to between 17 and 25 inches long (43 to 64 centimeters) from head to rump, which is about the same size as a raccoon.Their tail adds ...

Invasive species, such as nutria, Asian tiger mosquitos, and wild boars, are causing significant harm to Louisiana’s ...

Nutria with orange teeth. Gerard Soury/Getty Images The invasive species has since spread to at least 20 states, primarily in those along the Gulf Coast, such as Louisiana and Florida.

The Rat Resource. Nutria are a tremendous and abundant renewable resource, whether to be worn or eaten. Although it might take a bit to persuade food snobs to try it, wild nutria meat, or ragondin, is ...

Adult nutria are about two feet long and have a long, rat-like tail that can reach up to 18 inches long. They have long white whiskers, white muzzles, and dark yellow Austin Powers-like teeth.

But he hoped that nutria dishes could be commercialized and prepared more often, rather than just as a novelty. He said he once cooked a 20-gallon nutria gumbo at the rodeo for attendees to sample.

Since 2017, the Nutria Response Team has caught and killed more than 5,000 animals. The rodents reproduce quickly, and as their population grows, eradication gets more difficult.

Nutria were first detected in Northern California in 2017, mostly in Merced County. By 2019, 47 were detected in the Delta, all in San Joaquin County.

Most nutria infestations in California are on private property, where hunters would need written permission from the landowner, she said, or on public lands where nutria hunting is not permitted.