Keep an Invasive Species in Check: Eat a Big Rat-Like Rodent, U.S. Says

The U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service has a suggestion to help curb the growing population of an invasive species that bears a resemblance to a very large rat: Eat them.The invasive species, nutria, is a large, semiaquatic rodent increasingly found in marshes in the United StatesAs a part of its National Invasive Species Awareness Week, which ended on Friday, the federal agency released a list of invasive species that Americans can hunt, catch and cook to help control the unwanted pests.Topping the list: the nutria, whose population is increasing and disrupting marshland ecosystems.

The agency noted in its public advisory that hunting nutrias is not a total solution but is a start.“OK, so how can we help?” the Feb.20 advisory said.

“Nutria gumbo.Their meat is lean, mild and tastes like rabbit.”...