Invasive species are wreaking havoc on the country.
Controlling them requires a creative solution.
And U.S. Fish & Wildlife officials had some weird advice for fighting invasive species.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service urges Americans to eat invasive species
The last week of February was National Invasive Species Awareness Week.
Invasive species damage the ecosystems they are introduced into and are a mess for wildlife officials to deal with since they often do not have any predators.
Florida has been fighting to control the populations of Burmese pythons and iguanas that were released as pets.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service celebrated National Invasive Species Awareness Week by encouraging Americans to eat them.
It listed recipes for some invasive species that can be hunted and eaten.
“Invasive species outcompete native wildlife, destroy habitats, and mess up ecosystems. But rather than just complaining about them, let’s put them on the menu,” U.S. Fish & Wildlife explained. “Eating invasive species can help protect native wildlife by reducing their numbers and limiting the damage they cause to ecosystems.”
The Eat the Invaders website warned that it needed to be done in conjunction with other policies to manage the invasive species.
Americans can add some exotic meats to the menu
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed five invasive species they recommended Americans chow down on for the good of the ecosystem.
Nutria is a large rodent that looks similar to a beaver that is native to South America that lives in wetlands.
It was brought to the United States in the 1930s for the fur trade.
Nutria have become a problem in Louisiana and have been found in 20 states throughout the country.
They are considered one of the most destructive invasive species in the country.
“As an exotic invasive species in our North American wetlands, they can be especially destructive since plant species did not evolve with this forager,” Central Michigan University professor of ecology and biology Thomas Gehring explained.
The Fish & Wildlife Service claims that nutria is a lean meat that tastes like rabbit and recommends using it in a gumbo.
Green iguanas have become a nuisance in South Florida after they were brought to the United States from Central and South America as part of the pet trade.
“These cold-blooded invaders are eating Florida’s native plants and destabilizing seawalls. The solution? Iguana stew. Their meat is often called ‘chicken of the trees’ for its mild flavor,” the Fish & Wildlife Service wrote.
Northern Snakeheads are invasive fish that were brought over from East Asia.
Found in the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the South, this fish has white, flaky meat that would be good in fish tacos.
The bighead, silver, black carp, and grass carp are invasive carp that arrived from East Asia.
Carp is good blackened, grilled, or fried.
Wild hogs and feral pigs have caused billions of dollars’ worth of destruction across the South.
“Wild boar is some of the best-tasting invasive meat you can get. Leaner and richer in flavor than store-bought pork, wild boar works in everything from smoked barbecue to hearty chili. Grind it for burgers, braise it for tacos, or go full gourmet with wild boar ragu over pasta,” the Fish & Wildlife Service explained.
Americans can do their duty fighting invasive species by putting them on the menu.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
