The case for eating California’s giant invasive rodents

<em>A nutria in a frozen river in Slovenia tries to look inedible, only somewhat succeeds. </em>

Two-foot-long rodents called nutria, which can grow as large as 20 pounds, are the latest threat to California’s wetlands. But here’s the good news: they apparently taste great in jambalaya. So naturally, I wanted to try some California-grown rodent for myself.

These raccoon-sized rodents from South America have invaded every continent except Antarctica, and have set up camp in at least 18 US states. Now, they’ve set their beady sights on California. Over the past year, more than 24 nutria have been spotted in California’s wetlands for the first time since they were eradicated in the 1970s, according to The Sacramento Bee. Some were pregnant females, and others were just babies — a clear sign that they’re multiplying.

That’s worrying,...

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