Latest news with #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Feds Want You to Eat More BBQ Swamp Rat to Save Your Local Marsh
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is actively promoting hunting and consumption of wild nutria as a strategy for controlling growing numbers of the invasive rodent species that are eating their way across as many as 18 states, from California to Washington and Florida to Maryland. The service initially encouraged the consumption of nutria during National Invasive Species Awareness Week in February. On Feb. 24, it posted a photo of a nutria with long, orange incisors on its Facebook page, captioning it, 'Eat Me! Please? I'm invasive and delicious.' FWS made a follow-up post on Feb. 27, detailing how to identify nutria by their arched backs, white whiskers, and rat-like tails. The service also reiterated the edibility of nutria meat while encouraging readers to check their state's regulations and restrictions before they head out to the local swamp for some impromptu grocery shopping. In a February statement, FWS spokesperson Erin Huggins compared nutria meat to rabbit and praised its mild taste and lean texture. 'Eating invasive species can help protect native wildlife by reducing their numbers and limiting the damage they cause to ecosystems,' Huggins said. 'However, it's not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species.' While FWS encouraged citizens to 'be an ecosystem hero and eat the invaders,' plenty of commenters were hesitant to grab their forks and wrap up in capes. 'Nice try,' one Facebook commenter wrote. 'There is no way that beaver rat-looking thing tastes delicious.' 'I'd eat a lot of things, but I draw the line at giant rats,' wrote another. Undeterred (and apparently unaware of their audience) the person running the FWS account plowed forward with some absurd wine pairing recommendations. 'A dish bursting with fresh herbs might be perfectly complemented by a crisp, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc, while a barbecue-glazed nutria pairs brilliantly with vibrant, fruity notes in Zinfandel.' As we've reported previously, nutria actually does taste pretty good if you're willing to give it a try. One chef we interviewed, Phillipe Parola, likes to turn these ugly marsh critters into French culinary delights like Nutria à l'Orange and Culotte de Nutria à la Moutard, although he also doesn't shy away from adding nutria to classic Louisiana gumbo. A few social media users confirmed it's worth cooking. 'The first time I had nutria, I thought it was pork loin medallions,' wrote one commenter on the USFWS post. 'Delicious!' Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are native to South America. The large, semi-aquatic rodents resemble beavers, although they only grow to about one third the size. They were introduced into the United States in the early 20th century as part of the fur trade. Prolific breeders, nutria can produce up to three litters per year, with as many as 13 cubs per litter. As the demand for fur declined, nutria populations spread relatively unchecked, establishing populations primarily in marshes, wetlands, and coastal regions. Read Next: Hunting Nutria with the Rat Pack in Louisiana Nutria are notorious for their voracious appetites and destructive feeding habits. The herbivores consume up to 25 percent of their body weight daily. They gnaw the roots and stems of wetland plants, depleting native vegetation which weakens the soil structure, accelerates erosion, and threatens delicate coastal ecosystems. Other invasive species that the USFW recommended eating to help reduce numbers and limit the environmental damage they cause include the Northern snakehead, green iguana, invasive carp, and feral hogs.
USA Today
08-03-2025
- General
- USA Today
'Put them on the menu': Americans should eat more of these invasive animals, officials say
'Put them on the menu': Americans should eat more of these invasive animals, officials say What do iguanas, rodents, fish and wild boars have in common? They're on a list of invasive species that federal officials are encouraging people to eat in an effort to limit damage to ecosystems. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the list on Feb. 20 for National Invasive Species Awareness Week Feb. 24 to Feb. 28. 'Invasive species outcompete native wildlife, destroy habitats, and mess up ecosystems,' the agency wrote. 'But rather than just complaining about them, let's put them on the menu.' According to the agency, invasive species can damage the ecosystems they become part of, and eating them is just one way to protect native wildlife. 'It's not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species,' the wildlife service said, calling the species 'downright delicious.' Find out which species made the list below. Nutria known for 'devouring marshlands' Nutria, a native species to South America, are invasive to the Gulf of America coast (formerly the Gulf of Mexico), the Atlantic coast and the Pacific Northwest, according to the wildlife service. They are oversized, wetland-loving rodents that initially were brought to the U.S. as part of the fur trade, the agency said. 'Now they're devouring marshlands,' the wildlife service said. The agency said those who want to eat nutria can try gumbo recipes. 'Their meat is lean, mild, and tastes like rabbit,' it said. Northern snakeheads 'compete with native species for food' and habitats Next on the service's list of invasive species for people to chow down on is the northern snakehead fish, or channa argus. The fish can breathe air and can live outside water for several days, the wildlife agency said. They are native to East Asia but have become invasive in Mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. waterways. Snakehead fish 'compete with native species for food' and habitats, and there is concern that they may outcompete or displace important native species or other predatory fish, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The northern snakehead fish can be fried, grilled or turned into tacos, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. 'They're delicious with a firm, white, and flaky meat,' the agency said. Invasive carp 'are clogging U.S. waterways,' officials say Invasive carp, which includes bighead, silver, black carp and grass carp, are native to East Asia. They've been found in multiple Midwest and Southeast rivers and lakes, the wildlife service said. 'These high-jumping fish are clogging U.S. waterways and outcompeting native species,' the agency said, adding that they're 'surprisingly tasty' and are delicious when grilled, blackened, or made into 'crispy fish cakes.' Green iguana Next up is the green iguana, native to Central and South America. The species is invasive in Florida and other warm states, where they eat Florida's native plants and destabilize seawalls. 'The solution? Iguana stew,' the wildlife service said. 'Their meat is often called 'chicken of the trees' for its mild flavor.' Wild boar: A 'full-blown ecological disaster' Lastly, there's the feral hog or wild boar, known scientifically as sus scrofa. Wild boars are native to Europe and Asia but have become invasive in the southeastern U.S., Texas, California and other areas, the wildlife service said. 'They aren't just invasive, they're a full-blown ecological disaster,' it said. 'Rooting, trampling, and devouring everything in their path, these piggies are tearing up farmland, forests, and wetlands across the country.' The agency said wild boar account for 'some of the best-tasting invasive meat you can get.' Their meat is leaner and more rich in flavor than pork sold in stores, the service said. Their meat can be turned into smoked barbecue, chili, burgers, tacos or wild boar ragu over pasta. 'Feral hog hunting is encouraged in many states, so you're not just getting a great meal, you're doing conservation work with every bite.' The agency said it's important for people to check local regulations and restrictions first, however. 'Then, get cooking and help control these invasive species one bite at a time." Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rodent for dinner? California officials urge residents to eat invasive nutria
Wildlife officials are encouraging California residents to add a rodent to their daily diet as part of efforts to control the invasive species' population. The nutria, a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America, is threatening the state's ecosystems by destroying habitats and outcompeting native wildlife. The nutria's harmful impacts have prompted wildlife officials to promote hunting and consumption as possible solutions. 'Eating invasive species can help protect native wildlife by reducing their numbers and limiting the damage they cause to ecosystems,' reads a statement released in late February by Erin Huggins, a spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife Service. 'However, it's not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species.' According to the California department of fish and wildlife (CDFW), nutria were originally introduced to the US for the fur trade but have since established themselves in as many as 18 states. The rodents can grow up to 40in (102cm), which is nearly as large as a beaver or a small dog. They were believed to have been eradicated from California in the 1970s, but a spike was detected in 2017, especially in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta and surrounding wetlands. Federal wildlife officials are trying to make the consumption of nutrias somewhat enticing by drawing similarities to the taste of rabbit or dark turkey meat. Resources, including recipes for nutria dishes such as stews and chilli, are available on Nutria are highly destructive to marsh environments. The rodents eat up to a quarter of their body weight in vegetation daily. Their feeding habits not only destroy native plant life but also destabilize soil structures, which can result in heavy erosion and habitat loss for threatened and endangered species. To mitigate their impact, CDFW has removed about 5,500 nutria from California wetlands as of early February. The highest concentration of these rodents were found in Merced, Fresno, Stanislaus and Solano counties. The call to eat nutrias came during National Invasive Species Awareness Week in late February, a time dedicated to calling attention to the urgency of addressing the harm of invasive species before they cause further ecological and economic damage. Some other species wildlife officials encouraged residents to hunt, catch and cook were the northern snakehead, the green iguana, several species of carp and wild boars.
The Guardian
05-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
California officials encouraging residents to eat invasive rodents
Wildlife officials are encouraging California residents to add a rodent to their daily diet as part of efforts to control the invasive species' population. The nutria, a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America, is threatening the state's ecosystems by destroying habitats and outcompeting native wildlife. The nutria's harmful impacts have prompted wildlife officials to promote hunting and consumption as possible solutions. 'Eating invasive species can help protect native wildlife by reducing their numbers and limiting the damage they cause to ecosystems,' reads a statement released in late February by Erin Huggins, a spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife Service. 'However, it's not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species.' According to the California department of fish and wildlife (CDFW), nutria were originally introduced to the US for the fur trade but have since established themselves in as many as 18 states. The rodents can grow up to 40in (102cm), which is nearly as large as a beaver or a small dog. They were believed to have been eradicated from California in the 1970s, but a spike was detected in 2017, especially in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta and surrounding wetlands. Federal wildlife officials are trying to make the consumption of nutrias somewhat enticing by drawing similarities to the taste of rabbit or dark turkey meat. Resources, including recipes for nutria dishes such as stews and chili, are available on Nutria are highly destructive to marsh environments. The rodents eat up to a quarter of their body weight in vegetation daily. Their feeding habits not only destroy native plant life but also destabilize soil structures, which can result in heavy erosion and habitat loss for threatened and endangered species. To mitigate their impact, CDFW has removed about 5,500 nutria from California wetlands as of early February. The highest concentration of these rodents were found in Merced, Fresno, Stanislaus and Solano counties. The call to eat nutrias came during National Invasive Species Awareness Week in late February, a time dedicated to calling attention to the urgency of addressing the harm of invasive species before they cause further ecological and economic damage. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Some other species wildlife officials encouraged residents to hunt, catch and cook were the northern snakehead, the green iguana, several species of carp and wild boars.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Giant goldfish found in Pennsylvania prompts a warning for fish owners
Gigantic goldfish wreaking havoc in local lakes may sound like something out of a throwback sci-fi flick, but it's all very real. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is sharing pics of 'massive' goldfish whose owners released them into the wild in an effort to call attention to the problems the fish can create in lakes and other waterways. "Your pet store goldfish after two years in the wild: 'Call me Megalodon,'" the federal agency wrote Feb. 25 on Facebook alongside a pic of a USFWS ranger holding a football-sized goldfish caught in Presque Isle, Pennsylvania. "This goldfish isn't supposed to be here. But someone released it, thinking they were being kind. Instead, they created an invasive problem that can last decades," the agency explained. Your pet store goldfish after two years in the wild: 'Call me Megalodon.' This goldfish isn't supposed to be here. But... Posted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 The USFWS, who shared the information in recognition of National Invasive Species Awareness Week, said goldfish can grow to massive proportions in the wild, where they disrupt local ecosystems and harm native fish. The goldfish can "turn lakes and waterways into murky messes, steal food from native fish and wreck water quality," the USFWS wrote. The USFWS shared a second pic in the comments of its post that showed another of its rangers using two hands to hold an enormous goldfish. "From cute to brute," it captioned the snap. Posted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 The official USFWS website explains that although goldfish in pet store tanks may look harmless, "in the wild, they don't stay small." "Without a tank limiting their size, goldfish that once fit in the palm of your hand can balloon into giant, football-sized invaders that compete with native species for food and habitat," the agency wrote. In addition to disturbing delicate ecosystems, which harms native fish and plant life, goldfish in the wild also harbor harmful parasites and diseases that infect native fish. Goldfish multiply quickly, too. Without any natural predators in the wild, their populations can "explode," the agency explained. The USFWS asks goldfish owners who can no longer keep their pets to rehome them or return them to a pet store — or even consider reaching out to a local aquarium or fish rescue group for help — rather than releasing them into local lakes or waterways. "Releasing a pet to the wild is never the right thing. Most pets released to the wild do not survive, and many suffer before they die," the agency wrote. "If it does survive, your pet could become an invasive species that harms native wildlife." This article was originally published on
