William Tauzin: “Nutria is a rodent native to South America. They weigh approximately 18 pounds and resemble a beaver. In the 1930's…”

“Nutria is a rodent native to South America. They weigh approximately 18 pounds and resemble a beaver. In the 1930's, they were introduced into Louisiana. Studies indicate that female nutria are capable of producing up to 15 young per year. By 1943, they were well established in our state. The population of nutria in Louisiana reached levels of 20 million--many times higher than any other state in the country. The preferred habitat of this rodent is wetland areas. They often dig intricate tunnel and burrow systems in their home range. Nutria have been known to eat rice, sugarcane, fruit and nut trees and seedlings of bald cypress, but prefer wetlands plants. Studies suggest that they waste 90 percent of plant material while feeding on the base and root system. This root system "holds" our fragile wetlands areas together. When the root systems are destroyed, so are the wetlands. Researchers in Louisiana have fenced off areas of wetland plants in known nutria breeding areas. The protected area have had wetlands plants exceed six feet in height, while the unprotected areas have literally turned into mud, and eventually, open water. Between 2000 and 2001, the area of marsh converted to open water increased by over 4500 acres as a results of nutria damage. These rodents have damaged or destroyed over 100,000 acres in Louisiana. The State of Louisiana has spent millions of dollars responding to this crisis.”