> The State of Louisiana is paying $4 per tail for shooting nutria, an
> introduced animal. Used to be a market for the fur but that went away
> years ago. Nutria are steadily destroying the marshes here and will dig
> holes in levees too. The meat is edible but a learned taste. Some gator
> farmers will pay for the meat to feed the alligators.
>
> George, in Louisiana

We had a large family of them in the canal near my house when I was
growing up...you'd only see them at night, crossing the road a moment
before you slammed on the brakes. Their tails always grossed me out.