Wildlife officials in the US are encouraging residents to add nutria, a large semi-aquatic rodent, to their diets as part of efforts to control the invasive species’ population.

Native to South America, nutria are threatening ecosystems by destroying habitats and outcompeting native wildlife. In response, officials are promoting hunting and consumption as potential solutions to curb their spread.

“Eating invasive species can help protect native wildlife by reducing their numbers and limiting the damage they cause to ecosystems,” reads a statement released in late February by Erin Huggins, a spokesperson for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. “However, it’s not a complete solution and should be combined with other conservation efforts to effectively control these species.”

According to the California department of fish and wildlife (CDFW), nutria were initially introduced to the US for the fur trade but have since spread to as many as 18 states. These rodents can grow up to 40 inches (102 cm) long, making them nearly as large as a beaver or small dog.

Nutria were believed to be eradicated from California in the 1970s, but their numbers surged again in 2017, particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and nearby wetlands.

To encourage consumption, federal wildlife officials compare nutria meat to rabbit or dark turkey meat. Recipes for dishes like stews and chili are available on Nutria.com.

Nutria pose a serious threat to marsh environments. They consume up to a quarter of their body weight in vegetation daily, destroying native plant life and destabilising soil. This leads to heavy erosion and habitat loss, particularly affecting threatened and endangered species.

To mitigate the damage,  CDFW has removed about 5,500 nutria from California wetlands as of early February. The highest concentrations of the rodents are found in Merced, Fresno, Stanislaus, and Solano counties.

However, CDFW officials do not encourage hunting nutria “out of concern other species could be mistakenly targeted”, according to a department spokesperson.

“Misidentification is still a huge issue in California, and accidental take of otters or beavers can have legal implications.”

Most affected areas are located on private property, according to the CDFW.

The call to consume nutria coincided with National Invasive Species Awareness Week in late February, an event aimed at raising awareness about the ecological and economic harm caused by invasive species and promoting early intervention.

In addition to nutria, wildlife officials also encouraged residents to hunt, catch, and cook other invasive species, including the northern snakehead, green iguana, several types of carp, and wild boars.