Posted on 01/23/2005 7:54:47 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
First time I ever saw one was in the Mary Walker Bayou off the Pascagoula River in MS just after Hurricane Camille. The river was still about 6' over flood stage and I was at our fishing camp with my parents checking to make sure my brother and our cabin was ok. One of my older brothers was living there at the time, and the phones were out. I saw this sleek thing swooping through the water and thought it was a seal! Mike told me it was a nutria; that's the first I'd ever heard of them. Don't Cajuns consider them good eatin?
About 25 years ago I lived in a second-floor apartment with a narrow balcony which led to the stairs.
One night I opened the door to go outside, and this big, rat thing was between me and the stairs.
I didn't know what to do. I ended up calling the police. The officer came out and he didn't know what to do either. He considered shooting the varmint but this was a congested apartment complex. He finally got a box and caught the critter and took it away.
When I mentioned it to the apartment manager the next day, she said, "Oh don't worry honey. It's a nutria, and nutria are vegetarians."
Gee thanks, lady.
If the supermarkets were closed down for two weeks, you'd be very surprised what you would or would not eat.
I knew a fellow who went to S. America years ago and he ate it. Said it was damn good. It has quite a bit of body fat so cooks up very juicy and tender.
In Oregon, they are hugh!
Does anyone know if this is the same animal in the midwest known as MUSKRATS? these things are dead common for as long as I can remember...(40 years)...When I was a kid i had a few friends that trapped them...they weren't worth alot, but they could be sold ....I always just thought of them like a smallish beaver with a rat tail...figured they exsisted everywhere down south...
No Muskrats are a totally different animal. A Muskrat looks more like a weasel or a mink, Nutria look like abeaver without the flat tale. Also muskrats are not vegetarian as is a Nutria. I;ve seen them in Texas and they do get pretty big and ugly remind me a lot of HELERY.
Nope, these are not muskrats. Probably a relative but not the same. These little critters were transplanted from South America. As far as eating them goes, people eat possum and Nutria are a lot better looking than a possum! Actually they eat them in South America all the time and I wouldn't mind trying one, having eaten just about every thing in North America at one time or another.
I thought it looked like a short-eared rabbit. Doesn't seem quite as disgusting that way.
At Murrells Inlet, SC there is a nice marshside restaurant called Creek Ratz. We should look for these critters there , house specialty.
LOL.
I'd take that rodent before Peter Jennings any day!
Not having cable or a dish, and wanting to see the swearing-in of the president, I had little choice but to watch him. He made so many nasty, snide remarks that I had to just laugh and enjoy the fact that he was so full of anger over the president's victory.
In order for the score to be even (for us dumping Jennings on you), all of the whining liberals who are threatening to move up here would actually have to do it. Or send us Michael Moore, we'll tax him to death and he'll come running back.
That is very true. I have never been in the position to have to eat something I didn't like and I should appreciate that. Point made.
FYI..back in the 60's-70's there was a major effort to farm them for their fur...Nutria coats were very popular for a while..they are water mammals..so the fur is incredibly water repellant..
Interesting. Makes sense...like a beaver fur. I find the name amusing....like they are supposed to be nutritious. Or you're supposed to whip them and top your dessert.
They're related to that giant S.SAfrican rodent..capibara (sp?).those suckers can weigh over 200 lbs..
Another picture of nutria.
I'll bet its part of a Democrat plot to retake the South as soon as they figure out a way to get these critters registered to vote.
:/
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