Eat a rodent, save the planet.
That’s the advice from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, which says putting tasty rodents, iguanas, boars and other invasive critters on the menu could help protect the ecosystem.
“Invasive species outcompete native wildlife, destroy habitats and mess up ecosystems,” the federal agency said. “But rather than just complaining about them, let’s put them on the menu.”
Nutria, a South American rodent, tastes just like rabbit, the US Fish & Wildlife Service said as it urged folks to eat them.. pixarno – stock.adobe.com
The sharp-toothed northern snakehead is perfect for fish tacos or just grilled, the US Fish & Wildlife Service said. Ryan Hagerty/USFWS
The unconventional fare could include nutria, a South American rodent, northern snakehead, sharp-toothed fish nicknamed “Frankenfish” because they can survive out of water for days, green iguana, and several varieties of carp, high-flying fish the can clog US waterways, the agency said.
Not to be left off the menu are feral hogs and wild boar, described by the Fish & Wildlife Service as a “feral swine” and a “full-blown ecological disaster.”
The hogs and boars, who trample and gobble up anything in their path, are “leaner and richer in flavor than store-bought pork,” and are perfect for barbecues and chili, the agency said.
The green iguana may look gross, but wildlife officials said they’re so tasty they’re known as “the chicken of the trees.’ Andy Wraithmell/FWC
Don’t be turned off by the ugly wild boar — wildlife officials said their lean and rich meat beats store-bought pork. davemhuntphoto – stock.adobe.com
The green iguana, meanwhile, has been dubbed the “chicken of the trees” thanks to its mild flavor.
Not to be outdone, the service said the snakehead’s white, flaky meat is perfect for fish tacos, while the nutria offers lean, mild meat that tastes a lot like rabbit.
“Eating invasive species can help protect native wildlife by reducing their numbers and limiting the damage they cause to ecosystems,” the release said. “However, it’s not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species.
“With that said, here are five invasive species causing trouble in the US that also happen to be downright delicious.”
Officials did not offer wine pairings for the dishes.
