Invasive 20-pound rodents increasingly burrowing into California

sfgate ^ | 2/11/18 | Tom Miller

[LibWhacker]

A giant invasive rodent with the ability to destroy roads, levees and wetlands has been discovered in Stanislaus County.

Weighing in at 20 pounds and measuring 2 feet, 6 inches long, plus a 12-inch tail, the nutria live in or near water. They're also incredibly destructive.

“They burrow in dikes, and levees, and road beds, so they weaken infrastructure, (which is) problematic for flood control systems,” California Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira said.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is sounding an alarm about the invasive nutria.

When nutria aren’t burrowing, they’re eating. They can consume 25 percent of their body weight each day in vegetation, but they waste and destroy 10 times that.

Since 2017, more than 20 nutria have been spotted in Stanislaus, Merced and Fresno counties. However, that number could explode if they aren't dealt with quickly. Nutria can give birth to up to 200 offspring each year.

[LibWhacker]

Governor Moonbeam’s on it.

[Pecos]

Too bad California is a sanctuary state. Otherwise, they could enact a policy to get rid of them, but as undocumented immigrants to the state they get a free pass.

[ryderann]

One of God’s messages He’s sending to California.

[Daniel Ramsey]

Catch and outfit them with parachutes and drop them in Valenzuela. Put enough barbeque sauce on them first and I’m sure they can be edible.

[gov_bean_ counter]

They were already in the governor’s mansion, but a good bit larger than 20 pounds.

[CASchack]

Let the animal rights groups file suit to stop attempts to control them. We’ll see how Moonbeam responds.

[markomalley]

So there’s an invasion of Democrats in California. This is news?

[HighSierra5]

These Demonrats are all over California.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

According to the internet they're good over pasta.

Nutria Fettuccini
Ingredients

Mire Poix
1 chopped onion
1 chopped carrot
1 chopped celery stalk
2 cloves of garlic

Pasta
2 lbs cooked fettuccine
3 mushrooms, sliced
1 clove of garlic
Fresh spinach to taste
1 Tbsp sun-dried tomatoes, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
Parmesan cheese to taste
1 red bell pepper, minced

Bouquet Garni
1 while clove
1/2 bunch parsley
4 black peppercorns

Nutria
1 hind saddle; nutria meat
2 quarts cold water
1 cup of red wine
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Louisiana hot sauce

Bring water, seasonings, mire poix and bouquet garni to a boil. Add nutria hind saddle and simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender. Remove nutria meat and break meat off bones. Make sure to discard any gristle or silver skin.

With olive oil saute garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, bell pepper, and spinach for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add poached nutria meat and saute for 3 minutes until hot. Add fettuccine, saute then serve. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4 servings.

[tgusa]

Nutria are a pestilence. Ask anybody in Louisiana.

[TalBlack]

I think these things are in NY and NJ as well. I’ve seen something that looks exactly like these things burrowing and running around NY/NJ cemeteries over the last 15 20 years.

[Terry L Smith]

AW GEE WHIZ MOM!!!

First, it is a story about Louisianan crawfish invading Germany.

Then, a crawfish specie taking over in Europe, Asia, parts of Africa and Scandinavia!

NOW, it’s Louisianan nutria!!

Just think, a “backward, bayou-living, gator-hunting, ignorant, hurricane country place” like LOUISIANA, ( a red state I might add), sharing it’s pearls with the rest of the world!! (home of gators, crawfish, and nutria)

Happy Mardi Gras, folks!! MAGA!!

[Beagle8U]

But they are nutria-tional, perfect with fruit and nuts.

[TXBlair]

More ‘rats in Collyfornia? Big whoop.

Meh, nutria. I saw some of those scurrying around the beautifully-manicured lawns of our hotel in Kona, HI several years ago. Fat little suckers.

[RaginRak]

Rodents are not free spirits and do not “go where the wind takes them.” There is a motive to the direction these furry creatures are headed – and it’s usually for free food and free shelter....sorta like a Sanctuary State.

[LibWhacker]

Yep, I’m definitely worried about it. Here where I live in California’s Central Valley, we have what seems to be hundreds of poorly maintained levees each holding back its share of water, and in any wet winter several of them will invariably cave in and flood hundreds (or thousands?) of acres, much of it cropland. If Moonbeam doesn’t get on top of it right away and these things turn our levees into swiss cheese, it could be a huge disaster. First the fruit flies, then the Oroville dam, and now the nutria infested levees... Yikes!

[Reno89519]

And practically gun-free so they can’t even shoot the rodents. California has created their own mess—millions of illegals using up their water resources, crowding schools and hospitals, etc. What a mess for what was such a great state.

[LibWhacker]

I’ve seen something that looks exactly like these things burrowing and running around NY/NJ cemeteries over the last 15 20 years.

Oh, man, that's a disgusting thought! They're big. I bet they could break into any casket.

[semaj]

Looks like a dam beaver.