California declares state of emergency

Earthquakes? Mudslides? Wild fires?

Nope. Nutria. That’s right. The 20-pound rodents from South America have invaded California. Wildlife experts say the hairy beasties can be destructive.

“The big concern is that the rodents start destroying wetlands in the Delta and dig burrows that can weaken levees, roads and flood control projects.”

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/04/18/california-officials-declare-emergency-over-huge-invasive-nutria/

One problem with nutria: “(I)t can difficult to tell the difference between nutria and non-threatening animals like beavers, otters and muskrats.” Or, the animal trapped bears a resemblance to the wanted animal.

But the state has an answer. “We have wildlife biologists, PhDs out there trying to understand and identify them. It’s been challenging,” said (wildlife official Peter) Tira.”

Ah. California has PhDs hunting nutria.

California is not alone in facing unwanted rodents.

“Louisiana has also battled a much larger nutria invasion. But as to how the rodents ended up in California, nobody is quite sure.”

(1). Maybe California could ask Cajuns for nutria recipes.

(2) Maybe the nutria read about California being a sanctuary state.

Link at http://ace.mu.nu/