MatthewVanitas
Member
Greetings,
This is currently just distant-future planning, as I'm currently in Iraq and still have eight months left in California at the end of this tour. However, I'm pretty motivated to return to Washington state sometime next summer/fall.
I'd heard that nutria (giant South American water rats) are a major pest species in Texas and Louisiana. Checking out some of the range maps, it seems there's a pocket of the critters in Oregon and Washington as well.
So, how easy is it for a Northwesterner to do his environmentalist duty and participate in the relocation of non-native species? Are nutria fair game all year round? Are there any notable populations on public land, or do you knock on farmers' doors and offer to rid their domain of rats? Is there a certain time of year best suited to shwacking foreign invader rodents?
Is a scoped .22LR single-shot T/C pistol a good choice? Or a Ruger .22 pistol or revolver? Or do I have an excuse to buy a .17 of some sort?
As mentioned, it will be a little time before I can act on this info. Hopefully enough time to let WA pass a $4 bounty on their tails, as in Louisiana. I'd have me a flat-bottomed fanboat and shirtless bib-overalls in no time.
Any info from Pacific NW nutria hunters (if there are any out there) would be great. Thanks, -MV
This is currently just distant-future planning, as I'm currently in Iraq and still have eight months left in California at the end of this tour. However, I'm pretty motivated to return to Washington state sometime next summer/fall.
I'd heard that nutria (giant South American water rats) are a major pest species in Texas and Louisiana. Checking out some of the range maps, it seems there's a pocket of the critters in Oregon and Washington as well.
So, how easy is it for a Northwesterner to do his environmentalist duty and participate in the relocation of non-native species? Are nutria fair game all year round? Are there any notable populations on public land, or do you knock on farmers' doors and offer to rid their domain of rats? Is there a certain time of year best suited to shwacking foreign invader rodents?
Is a scoped .22LR single-shot T/C pistol a good choice? Or a Ruger .22 pistol or revolver? Or do I have an excuse to buy a .17 of some sort?
As mentioned, it will be a little time before I can act on this info. Hopefully enough time to let WA pass a $4 bounty on their tails, as in Louisiana. I'd have me a flat-bottomed fanboat and shirtless bib-overalls in no time.
Any info from Pacific NW nutria hunters (if there are any out there) would be great. Thanks, -MV