What Gun For Giant Rodents?

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Keith

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Found this picture on another forum. They are claiming these things are running loose in East Texas and Louisiana and breeding like rabbits.

I couldn't find anything on Google. Anyone here heard any rumors about 100 pound rats in the local bayou?

Keith
 
R.O.U.S.'s? Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.

:rolleyes:

Seriously though, it sounds like another jackalope tale to me.

Wes
 
Yep, they exist. If they're competeing with the nutria, that would be interesting. Had not heard that they've gotten into the US, mainly a South/Central American critter.
 
It's a real rodent - a capybara native to South America. And the picture looks authentic.

I'm just wondering if these things are running around in the wild in this country. I can't imagine anyone importing them for a game ranch - who would pay to shoot big rats?

Ever heard of a Nutria? It's another enormous rat, and somebody once thought it would be great idea to import them and turn them loose - and now they are a nuisance all over the gulf coast.

Keith
 
They are real. The first reports I heard about them came from Florida and Alabama. They are a South American rodent.

How they got here? Beats me. I hear they taste like chicken. :D
 
They're not jackalopes. Those critters in the pics are real and hail from Brazil. I've heard there are some of them running around parts of Texas, but I never hear about how they got here.:confused: Maybe they'll do us a favor and eat the fire ants.
 
Thefumegator,

I stopped at a local zoo recently (http://www.southwickszoo.com/), and I can confirm that capybara really do exist. I saw two of them walking around. Of course, they're not mentioned on the web page, so you'll just have to go visit if you're interested :) According to the zoo, they are from South America, not Texas.
 
My local zoo has two of them, they weigh like 150-200lbs, and they look like a giant guinea pig. I thought that they preferred dry land though.

Nutrias are similar in appearance but smaller (15-30lbs), and they have bright orange teeth. The nutrias are a big threat to wetlands because they eat the roots of water plants and leave a barren swamp behind them. The nutrias have gotten as far as Va and Md. last I heard.
 
i read that one of those ripped a zookeeper ladys arm off a while back in the paper, but i can't recall where.

i think 44 mag with hydrashoc would do nicely on em'
 
I was dropping off my kids at my ex-wife's house one night, and on the way home I saw what looked like a huge stinking rat. Now I know what it is.

These things are huge!
 
We had a zoo keepers arm ripped off here a few years back by a Brazilian taper, different critter same country. I used to do some snake trading with a fellow down around Waco that had a pair of capybaras (capybari?). He had kinda a weird sense of humor, makes me wonder...:scrutiny:
 
223 works well on nutria. Might want something heavier for a capybara.

Oh a side note the Capybara is a semi aquatic giant rodent, so much so that in Brazil its considered a "fish" and therefore you can eat it on Friday.

People apparently do eat the things.
 
Just remember to jump when you hear the series of gas veting noises coming from the ground...
 
Like nutria, capys are supposed to be quite good to eat. I haven't had the pleasure yet but if they make it to TN, I might.
 
some of y'uns didn't pay attention to Marlin Perkins did'ja?

Capibara.jpg
 
I figure a good hot 10mm should do the trick...now to find a SW 610 with the long barrel...

Given that they're imported rodents and probably destructive, does the state require a license to kill them? I know WA doesn't require a license to kill pigs for that reason.
 
I'd shoot them with a light caliber and hope they jumped in the water and disappeared before croaking. That way I wouldn't have to eat them...

Of course, one of those would make an interesting full shoulder mount. Can you imagine the comments?

Keith
 
I think I'd hafta be MUCHO hungry to eat anything in the rodent family! Would be fun to bowhunt like that gentleman, though.

And just think -- a year's supply of kitty chow in one shot!;)
 
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