‘Save a Swamp, Sauté a Nutria’

The US government is adopting the Viking mentality in its new approach to curbing the ever-growing population of a massive rat-like rodent — recommending that people try to turn it into a delicacy.

The nutria is a large, semiaquatic rodent species native to South America that has developed into an invasive species as it continues to crop up in marshes and swamps across the United States.

As part of National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the US Department of Fish and Wildlife Services released a list of the top five invasive species that can safely be caught, captured, and cooked in an effort to crack down on overpopulation.

The nutria topped the list. The agency noted that hunting the rodent isn’t an end-all-be-all solution, but that it’s a step in the right direction.

“OK, so how can we help? Nutria gumbo. Their meat is lean, mild and tastes like rabbit,” the advisory said.

Nutria can specifically be found along the Gulf Coast, in the Pacific Northwest and in the Southeastern United States. Its exact population, though, is unknown.

The rat-like behemoth is larger than a muskrat and smaller than a beaver — two animals they’re often mistaken for. They can weigh anywhere between 15 and 20 pounds.

Colonies of nutrias can disrupt entire ecosystems and have proven to be a persistent pest for farmers as they burrow straight through fertile land. The carnage left behind, including uprooting crops and eroding wetlands, is like “something out of a disaster movie,” the Fish and Wildlife Service said on social media.

“Save a Swamp, Sauté a Nutria,” the agency said.

Nutrias can help boost the flavor profile of common dishes or be used as a supplement for more common bases, Philippe Parola, a chef based in Baton Rouge, La., and the author of “Can’t Beat ’Em, Eat ’Em,” told the New York Times.

“It was crockpot nutria. You get the hind and you put it in a crockpot — vegetable, beef broth, tomato paste. And you get the perfect stew,” he told the outlet.

In Venice, La., an entire rodeo centered around hunting and cooking nutria is held every February in an effort to protect the bayou against the invasive species.

Some contestants show up with entire truckloads of nutria carcasses ready for preparation. The corpses are even used for substitute carnival games like the nutria toss and cornhole.