Louisiana's bounty on nutria will increase by $1 for the coming trapping and hunting season, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Each nutria tail turned in will fetch $5, up from $4 - the price since the program started in 2002.
This year's season is tentatively scheduled from Nov. 20 to March 31. Louisiana developed the Coastwide Nutria Control Program to curb wetland loss caused by the rodents. (They can eat an estimated 25 percent of their weight in marsh plants each day.) They hope that as many as 400,000 nutria are cleared this year.
The application process requires that participants' first secure a valid trapping license, then apply for the specific approval as a nutria control program participant. Although there is a fee for the trapping license, participation in the nutria control program is free.
For more information about the program, contact:
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
Fur and Refuge Division
2415 Darnall Road
New Iberia, Louisiana 70560Phone: (318) 373-0032
Fax: 318 373-0181
