Nutria and the Wetlands

Exponential growth of the Nutria population is having adverse affects on the wetlands in the United States, particularly in Louisiana. The Nutria reaches its biotic potential in a mere six months, and can produce a staggering 40 offspring in a 36 month period (Berg & Hager, 2007). Being able to reproduce at such speed, Nutrias are being born faster than they are dying of old age!

A stable growth rate requires the birth rate be in line with the death rate; the birth rate is higher than the death rate and provides scientists with a sure signal that the Nutria population is getting out of control. The dispersal rate of Nutrias is another factor to consider when explaining Nutria numbers; (Berg & Hager, 2007); without the need to travel for food, the Nutria is content to stay where it is.

The Nutria is nimble on land as well as being at home in the water; the animals have webbed feet and sharp, tough teeth which allows them to traverse the countryside while consuming as much as one quarter of their own body weight in a single day (Alien Invasion, VLR, 2007). Since Nutria weigh around 10lb. and often more, the portions of vegetation destroyed to satisfy its healthy appetite quickly add up. Given these perfect breeding conditions, with an ample food supply, the Nutria population continues to escalate, raising great concern for authorities.

The native flora in the wetlands is a complex mass of limbs and roots, and provides a stable bed for growth of new vegetation which protects the wetlands from nature's elements. Unfortunately, by satisfying its voracious appetite, the Nutria is removing the very foothold that the wetlands need to maintain healthy growth. However, being an adaptable creature means that the Nutria may also thrive on surrounding countryside, destroying many more acres of land, and rendering farmland for food crops and animals useless.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (2007) offers information about the Nutria and how its meat can be used for human consumption. It may be possible that the Nutria population could be controlled by farming the creatures, therefore, removing many of them from the wetlands, and controlling the population artificially. Yet another option could be as close as the pet food industry; Nutria meat would be a valuable additive to pet food for various carnivores. In the meantime, a high dollar bounty for Nutria culling would surely attract the attention of many hunters. Some may argue that the cost could not possibly be met, however, what price can one place on the utter devastation of the wetlands of the southern United States? The alternative is no longer an option.

Reference

Axia College of University of Phoenix. (2007). Alien Invasion (VLR). Retrieved May 29, 2009, from Axia College, Week Four reading, aXcess, SCI275-Environmental Science Course Web site.

Berg, L. R., & Hager, M. C. (2007). Visualizing environmental science. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Nutria for Human Consumption. Retrieved May 29th, 2009 from http://www.nutria.com/site14.php