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Nutria??? #831299
08/12/08 01:02 PM
08/12/08 01:02 PM

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Youngtraprs Dad OP
Unregistered
Youngtraprs Dad OP
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Where,when, and why do we have Nutria in the U.S.? If my memory's correct, they aren't a native species...right? I'm curious as to when,why&where they were introduced, and where their range has spread to, and if they are expected to spread any farther???

Anybody???

Re: Nutria??? [Re: ] #831315
08/12/08 01:10 PM
08/12/08 01:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,626
north Idaho
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wissmiss Offline
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wissmiss  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,626
north Idaho
Nutria are found in western Oregon and western Washington, as well as some of the southern states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, etc.).

They are not a native species - they are native to South America.

They were brought to the US to be raised for their fur - they are commercially raised in South America. Not sure when they were introduced, but I am thinking probably the 1930's (just a guess).

My understanding is that they can't live under ice like muskrats and beaver, so they are restricted to areas with open water year round. Thus, they will probably never spread to Illinois.

One interesting thing about nutria is that the mammary glands on the female on are on the back. The back fur is coarser and the belly fur is finer - making the belly fur the most valuable.


www.usedtraps.com

Please check out my updated inventory of Native American books.

Re: Nutria??? [Re: wissmiss] #831394
08/12/08 01:43 PM
08/12/08 01:43 PM

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Youngtraprs Dad OP
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Youngtraprs Dad OP
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Interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Are they easy to catch and handle? What are their pelts bringing now?

Re: Nutria??? [Re: ] #831398
08/12/08 01:46 PM
08/12/08 01:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,626
north Idaho
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wissmiss Offline
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wissmiss  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,626
north Idaho
I don't live in nutria country - but I think they are easy to catch. Tougher to skin than a muskrat, from what I have been told. You put them up cased, fur in. Long and narrow.

The western Oregon pelts are bringing about 5.00 top - with about a 3.00 average.

The pelts from the SE US bring less - coarser fur and less desirable.

I believe in some areas/states the farmers that grow vegetable crops will pay a 'bounty' for killing them, as nutria are VERY destructive on crops.


www.usedtraps.com

Please check out my updated inventory of Native American books.

Re: Nutria??? [Re: ] #831399
08/12/08 01:46 PM
08/12/08 01:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 858
Abbeville, LA
Swamprat Offline
trapper
Swamprat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 858
Abbeville, LA
Here You Go!

Nutria Population Dynamics – A Timeline

1930s –

Imported from fur farms, nutria were released, either intentionally or accidentally, in the Louisiana marshes in the 1930s, and soon after, feral populations were established near the Gulf Coast. Nutria continued to expand their range from there as they were trapped and transplanted into marshes from Port Arthur, Texas to the Mississippi River in 1941. Later that year, a hurricane further dispersed nutria populations in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.

Late 1940s –

In the late 1940s, nutria were promoted as biological agents for controlling aquatic weeds, primarily water hyacinth, and were transplanted throughout southeastern Louisiana. Rapid population growth followed for several years thereafter. Annual pelt harvest records and damage reports were the primary source of information on population dynamics at that time.

Mid-1950s –

At this time, reports started coming in describing the damage done to marshes, rice and sugarcane fields, and levee systems, as nutria populations soared to 20 million animals. Biologists described areas where nutria had completely denuded natural levees at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The marsh had been weakened by severe over-grazing, and in 1957, Hurricane Audrey hit southwestern Louisiana. Its storm surge further weakened the marsh as a huge wave of seawater pushed thousands of nutria inland, accelerating the rate at which the animals spread. Soon after, reports of agricultural damage increased, and in 1958 nutria were taken off the list of protected wildlife.

1960s to 1980s –

As the state promoted nutria fur as a natural resource, efforts to manage nutria as a pest began to compete with the growing fur industry. In 1965, the nutria was returned to the protected wildlife list. From 1962 to 1982, 1.3 million nutria were harvested annually for their fur from the coastal marshes. Reports of nutria damage declined substantially, and periodic severe weather helped to reduce populations.

Historical Comparison of Harvest and Pelt Prices



Click on graph to enlarge.



Mid-1980s –

The international fur market began to shrink during the mid-1980s, and, as a result, harvest levels substantially declined. Reports of significant nutria damage to the wetlands began coming from coastal land managers during the 1987-88 harvest season, which had been dramatically less productive than previous years due to the declining fur trade and stock market crash of 1987. Aerial surveys in 1988 confirmed damage was occurring, particularly of the southeastern marshes.

1990s –

In the 1990-91 harvest season, only 134,000 nutria were harvested. Aerial wetland damage surveys began in earnest in 1993 and were conducted again in 1995, 1996, 1998-2002. Survey results clearly show that nutria damage in recent years is concentrated in the Deltaic Plain in southeastern Louisiana. This indicates high nutria populations that are exceeding the local carrying capacity.

2000 –


In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed an appropriation to address Brown Marsh Dieback and to provide funds for a number of research studies on nutria. The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act, also known as the Breaux Act, has provided grant funding for coastal restoration and conservation. In 2002, a final report on Nutria Control Methods was completed by Genesis Laboratories under contract by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. After reviewing a number of possible methods to reduce nutria, the report concludes that the incentive payment program is the best option for coast-wide control. The report confirms the method advocated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. This program was put in place when the trapping season opened in November 2002.

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Live River Otters

AGE: 41
Re: Nutria??? [Re: Swamprat] #831400
08/12/08 01:47 PM
08/12/08 01:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 858
Abbeville, LA
Swamprat Offline
trapper
Swamprat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 858
Abbeville, LA
http://www.nutria.com/site.php

This Site has some of My favorite Nutria Recipies. If You have never eaten it, You dont know what You are missing. Table fare in many south Louisiana Restauraunts these days. The Chili is real good, the crock pot Nutria is even better.

here for recipies http://www.nutria.com/site14.php


Live River Otters

AGE: 41
Re: Nutria??? [Re: ] #831405
08/12/08 01:51 PM
08/12/08 01:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,914
Oregon
TasteLikeChicken Offline
trapper
TasteLikeChicken  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,914
Oregon
Around here I've heard them called Polish beaver....(no offense to any with Polish backgrounds)...so draw your own conclusions on dificulty to catch....LOL. If you are on location...I can't think of an easier to catch animal except maybe the family dog after his food bowl at dinner time.

Pelts bring "small change" money IMO..but they are worth skinning. They are very good eating...if you can get around that toothy smile...LOL.

They're a very destructive, non-native varmit...so many states have year round seasons on them. Any landowner with them generally wants them gone....so they can be a good for getting permission to trap.

How can I put this another way....think of semi-aquatic possum.....LOL.


Sack Punch Beaver Lure
http://www.tlclures.co.nr/
Re: Nutria??? [Re: TasteLikeChicken] #831519
08/12/08 02:39 PM
08/12/08 02:39 PM

Y
Youngtraprs Dad OP
Unregistered
Youngtraprs Dad OP
Unregistered
Y



Thanks Again for the replies! Made for some interesting reading.

Re: Nutria??? [Re: ] #831747
08/12/08 04:49 PM
08/12/08 04:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,875
Gainesville, Alachua, Florida,...
Robb Russell Offline
trapper
Robb Russell  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,875
Gainesville, Alachua, Florida,...
I have a few videos on nutria I forgot I had on my old site you may find interesting.

http://thewildlifepro.com/nutria.html


Find Our Podcasts @ http://www.thewildlifepro.net
Re: Nutria??? [Re: Robb Russell] #831937
08/12/08 07:32 PM
08/12/08 07:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,424
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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Riverotter2 Offline
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Riverotter2  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,424
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Alabama full of em, hear they into parts of Tenn. now.

Re: Nutria??? [Re: Riverotter2] #832498
08/13/08 06:26 AM
08/13/08 06:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,341
LA
E
Eric Cottrell Offline
trapper
Eric Cottrell  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,341
LA
J. L. McIllheny, the founder of tabasco, brought them to Avery Island in the late 1920's from Argentina. They were raising them for the fur trade. In the early 30's, floods caused by a tropical storm, enabled them to escape their fences. They multiply like rats, so it didn't take long for them to become widespread in the south. Never did hear how they made it up to Oregon?????

As some of the others have said, they are about the easiest animal there is to catch. I liked the "semi-aquatic possum" remark. That about sums them up.

One tip for anyone cleaning them....knock their teeth out before skinning. The fur actually grows around their top teeth. Makes your job much easier when trying to skin the head out.

Re: Nutria??? [Re: Eric Cottrell] #832510
08/13/08 06:59 AM
08/13/08 06:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,464
Southern Indiana
FOXCATCHER Offline
trapper
FOXCATCHER  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,464
Southern Indiana
Those things shed way to much for me. They shed like they are tainted even if skinned right from the trap.

Don


With it or on it. A way of life

There's a lot of smart people, far fewer wise men... NonPCfed
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