Eating invasive species news and notes from around the internet!

• Giant African land snail stew!  (Though it turns out the suspect was not GALS)
• Considering nutria stew and fur coats in Louisiana.
• The Examiner takes a look at eating invasive species
• Invasive species reporting app now available for the Great Lakes region!
• And our video of the week: zebra mussel sniffing dogs!

The only way Invasivores can obtain nutria meat is by hunting their own (as it isn’t sold anywhere) but alas, none of our staff have done so (yet).  Today’s dish comes to us from Marsh Dog, a company in Louisiana that turns this invasive pest into dog treats.

“Go on… you have my attention”

“Barataria Bites” received positive reviews from the dog surveyed.

For Invasivores interested in catching their own nutria, you can check out how to prep them for human consumption here.

Nutria (Myocastor coypus), also known as the coypu or river rat, is a 12lb rodent native to South America that has been introduced to North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia and has become especially invasive in coastal regions of the US. They resemble a small beaver with a long, thin tail. Nutria were originally introduced to the US in 1899 to be used in fur farming and were deliberately released in Louisiana in the 1930’s to control invasive water plants. There are nutria populations established in many states, although control efforts have been especially focused in Louisiana, where nutria greatly damage coastal marshes by digging up soil to eat the base of plant stems, roots, and rhizomes. Control efforts have been successful, with a drop in wetland loss due to nutria destruction at nutria survey sites from 27,000+ acres/year in 1998 to just over 1,600 acres/year in 2011.

Chef Philippe Parolla was involved in a movement to popularize nutria for human consumption, but their rat-like appearance made many consumers hesitant to eat them. There are additional markets for nutria as guilt-free fur and as a dog treat ingredient.

A buffet of eating invasive species news and notes from around the web!

The Outsmart Invasive Species Project has released one of the most comprehensive invasive species smartphone apps to date!

A record-setting catfish catch stirs invasive species controversy in Maryland.

These nine-pound invasive rats are disgusting… but are they edible?

The Locavore Hunter provides an appropriate response to last week’s NYT Op-Doc, “Hi, I’m a Nutria”

Fishing competition for cichlids in New Orleans.  Try one of our tilapia recipes!

last week’s profiled species, Asian carp, gained attention this week in the fight to feed hungry families

A colleague of ours has started a new cooking blog, and we hope you’ll check it out.  Maybe we can convince him to try cooking a few invasive species?

The Maui News does a decent summary of the principles of being an invasivore.

An interesting program making fur-fashion and dog treats from Nutria.

Forbes.com’s Lindsey Hoshaw gives us a mention in Eat your Weeds.

Several people sent me great links for the round-up this week, thanks!  And keep them coming.  This week, I get taunted by Garlic Mustard Ice Cream.

Tuesday, May 31

Insect Eating Invasive Plant in the Everglades

Sunday, June 5

Allen Afield: Crappies are invasive, but they’re great fun, food

Tuesday, June 7

Making The Best Out Of Invasion, Missouri Shop Makes Cicada Ice Cream- oh Garlic Mustard Ice Cream…why must you tease me so?

Wednesday, June 8

I got an email from Conservation Biologist Joe Roman this week, and I’m happy to pass on some really great articles of his from a few years ago.  Try the Nutria, Wild Boar and crawfish egg rolls.  Follow up with the Kudzu Sorbet (dang-it GMIC)

Bon Appetit: Ecologists are devising invasive species control strategies that would make Julia Child proud.

Eat the Invaders! As marauding hordes of invasive species devour heaping helpings of the North American landscape,
we offer some recipes that might help turn the tables.

also on the 8th-

City Says Baaaaaa-humbug To Invasive Plants

San Diego County’s Wild Pig Problem- Oddly Familiar

Friday, June 10

Mississippi flooding may have spread invasive fish

Michigan’s Canned Hunt Ranches Fight to Keep Exotic Swine Legal

Australia: Killing Camels for Carbon Credits?- not exactly eating, but a clever way to recoup lost costs?

I didn’t have to look very far for tasty invasivore nibblies this week.  Lionfish was a big hit, with a fun little video.  I particularly enjoy the article at the very bottom from Science.

Monday, March 14

Ocean Film Fest 2011: 20 Recipes For Lionfish, Eat Up to Save Coral Reefs! (Video)

Tuesday, March 15

Consumer Trends: Eat the intruders

Wednesday, March 16

The Lionfish Is Delicious. And it needs to die.

Thursday, March 17

More Animals That Deserve To Be Eaten

Friday, March 18

Carp, It’s What’s for Lunch

Embracing Invasives

This week in invasivory got off to a strong start on the heels of National Invasive Species Awareness Week.  We saw lots of press specifically for invasivores, and  some clever  ’other’ consumptive uses.

Sunday, March 6

Feral hogs are a menace that must be dealt with

Monday, March 7

Become an ‘Invasivore’ in 3 easy lessons!

Biodegradable sanitary napkin made from invasive plant helps solve lack of access to feminine hygiene products in Kenya

Tuesday, March 8

6 edible invasive species recipes

Californian nature reserve using hungry goats to battle invasive species

We’ve talked about invasivore goats before in out Blackberry Profile

Wednesday, March 9

Best New Invasive Species Eating Trend: Lionfish

Thursday, March 10

Nutria no longer another state’s invasive species problem

The Weekly Invasivore Round-up compiles our favorite news and blogoshpere items from the week which we think are relevant to Eating Invasive Species. This week: Google recipes, Asian Carp, Rock Snot, attack strategies,  lionfish, nutria, snakehead and more.

Pick of the Week

Google launches new recipe search!

Saturday Feb 19

Rockford doctor’s business fights Asian carp invasion

As feed for animals and humans, and a source for omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil.

Sunday, Feb 20

‘Rock Snot’ Algae, Didymosphenia Geminata, Leads Maryland To Ban Felt Fishing Boots

Maryland becomes the first state to ban felt-bottomed fishing waiters, which contribute to the spread of the edible, if slimy, “rock snot” Didymosphenia geminate.

Tuesday, Feb 22

Invasive Species Control Strategies – Avoiding the Whac-A-Mole Approach

Ecologist Chris Helzer provides some strategy suggestions on the best ways to approach harvest and destruction of invasive prairie plants.

Thursday, Feb 24

Lionfish on the Loose

Defenders of Wildlife are an amazing advocate for native plants and animals in the face of invasions.  It’s good to see them onto Lionfish derbies.

Google blends recipes into search menu

Is Google invasive?  Maybe a little, but it’s definitely becoming more edible.  They’ve launched a recipe search!

Friday, Feb 25

Coping With Florida’s Invasive Species

Lionfish.  The “popular” edible invader, but there’s plenty other tasty invaders out there.

Invasive Animals Continue to Thrive in Maryland

And many are of course, edible.