 "Why US officials are urging Americans to eat some giant rats and wild pigs")
“EAT ME! Please? I’m invasive and delicious.”
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is encouraging Americans to consume certain invasive species, including animals resembling giant rats and wild pigs.
ALSO READ | What is Nepal’s Gadhimai festival, known as ‘world’s bloodiest festival’?
In a Facebook post, the agency urged people to hunt, catch, and cook nutria, a large, rat-like semiaquatic creature classified as an invasive species in Oregon.
“Invasive species outcompete native wildlife, destroy habitats, and mess up ecosystems,” the agency stated. “But rather than just complaining about them, let’s put them on the menu.”
To help manage them, the agency has released a list of invasive species that can be hunted, caught, and eaten.
But what exactly are invasive species? And why is the agency encouraging Americans to eat them?
We will answer these questions:
What is an invasive species?
An invasive species is any organism that disrupts the ecological balance or causes economic damage in an environment where it is not naturally found, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
These species pose a threat to natural ecosystems and can also impact human activities that depend on those resources.
They are often introduced through various means, including ship ballast water, accidental releases, or human intervention.
Invasive species can drive native plants and animals to extinction, reduce biodiversity, compete for essential resources, and alter habitats, leading to long-term environmental consequences.
ALSO READ | Is your pet just moody or facing a mental health crisis?
Why US officials want Americans to eat them
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has suggested consuming invasive species as a way to manage their increasing numbers.
The agency explained that these species disrupt ecosystems, and eating them is one method to help protect native wildlife.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“It’s not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species,” the FWS stated, describing them as “downright delicious.”
So, which species made it onto their list?
Nutria
At the top of the list is a large, wetland-dwelling rodent that was originally introduced to the US through the fur trade, according to the agency.
Nutria, a species native to South America, has become invasive along the Gulf of America coast (formerly the Gulf of Mexico), as well as the Atlantic coast and the Pacific Northwest.
For those interested in cooking nutria, the agency suggested trying gumbo recipes.
“Their meat is lean, mild, and tastes like rabbit,” the agency said.
A group of nutrias, known as a colony, can severely disrupt ecosystems and agriculture by digging extensive burrows and uprooting plants. Their feeding behaviour leads to widespread erosion in wetland areas, something the agency likened to “a disaster movie.”
“Save a Swamp, Sauté a Nutria,” it added.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries estimated that before a control programme was introduced, nutria had damaged as much as 102,585 acres of land in the state.
These rodents can eat a quarter of their body weight in vegetation daily and are capable of destroying areas up to ten times that size.
Green iguana
Another species mentioned in the list is the green iguana, which originates from Central and South America.
It has become invasive in Florida and other warm regions, where it consumes native plants and weakens seawalls.
“The solution? Iguana stew,” the FWS suggested. “Their meat is often called ‘chicken of the trees’ for its mild flavour.”
Northern snakehead fish
Also included on the list is the northern snakehead fish, scientifically known as Channa argus.
These fish can survive out of water for several days by breathing air, according to the agency. Originally from East Asia, they have established themselves as an invasive species in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern US waterways.
Snakehead fish pose a threat to native species by competing for food and habitat. The US Geological Survey has raised concerns that they may outcompete or displace key native species and other predatory fish.
Invasive carp
Invasive carp, which include bighead, silver, black, and grass carp, are also on the list.
Native to East Asia, these fish have spread across multiple rivers and lakes in the Midwest and Southeast, according to the FWS.
“These high-jumping fish are clogging US waterways and outcompeting native species,” the agency stated, adding that they are “surprisingly tasty” and can be grilled, blackened, or used to make “crispy fish cakes.”
Wild boar
The final species on the list is the feral hog, also known as the wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Originally from Europe and Asia, these animals have become invasive in parts of the southeastern US, Texas, California, and other regions, according to the agency.
“They aren’t just invasive, they’re a full-blown ecological disaster,” the agency warned. “Rooting, trampling, and devouring everything in their path, these piggies are tearing up farmland, forests, and wetlands across the country.”
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
