Hated pest or righteous fur? In Louisiana, the nutria is an invasive species that destroys wetlands, so fashion designers are using their pelts as fur.
A lot of people ask us, “So, what is a nutria?” Here’s a primer:
• Originally native to South America.
• They resemble a large rat, though they can weigh 20 pounds.
• Has bright orange, beaver-like teeth.
• Once valued for fur, but now seen as a wetlands-munching pest.
• In Louisiana, hunters get $5 for each dead nutria they bring in.
• The animal is rated as “least concerned” in a widely accepted list of threatened species.
• Meat is low in cholesterol and fat.
