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Hogs, Iguanas And More: The USFWS Says You Should Eat These Invasive Species
Want to broaden your palette, and try something new to eat? Or maybe you have a hankering for wild game, but don’t want to endanger indigenous species that are having a rough time? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a suggestion: Try eating an invasive species instead.
Specifically, the USFWS has listed five species for you to try. These aren’t available across the entirety of United States, but if you live in mid-to-lower part of the Lower 48, you should be able to get a shot off at one of these species, or throw a line in, without driving too terribly far.
Asterix and his friends in ancient Gaul ate wild boar, and you can too. [Steve Hillebrand/USFWS]
Here’s the official list:
Nutria (Myocastor coypus)
Native to: South America
Invasive in: Gulf of America Coast, Atlantic Coast, Pacific Northwest
These oversized, wetland-loving rodents were brought to the U.S. for the fur trade and now they’re devouring marshlands. Ok, so how can we help? Nutria gumbo. Their meat is lean, mild, and tastes like rabbit.
Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)
Native to: East Asia
Invasive in: Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. waterways
Because this sharp-toothed facultative air breather can live outside a body of water for several days, it has the ability to wiggle its way to other freshwater habitats. Luckily, they’re delicious with a firm, white, and flaky meat. Try them in fish tacos, grilled, or fried. Just make sure they don’t bite you first.
Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Native to: Central and South America
Invasive in: Florida and other warm states
These cold-blooded invaders are eating Florida’s native plants and destabilizing seawalls. The solution? Iguana stew. Their meat is often called “chicken of the trees” for its mild flavor.
Invasive Carp (Bighead, Silver, Black Carp and Grass Carp species)
Native to: East Asia
Invasive in: Midwest and Southeast rivers and lakes
These high-jumping fish are clogging U.S. waterways and outcompeting native species. Often spotted on viral videos slapping some unlucky angler in the face as it bounds into a passing boat, these fish are wreaking havoc on our fisheries. Here’s the good news, they’re surprisingly tasty. Try them grilled, blackened, or turned into crispy fish cakes.
Feral Hogs or Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)
Native to: Europe and Asia
Invasive in: Southeastern U.S., Texas, California, and beyond
Be gone, you feral swine! They aren’t just invasive, they’re a full-blown ecological disaster. Rooting, trampling, and devouring everything in their path, these piggies are tearing up farmland, forests, and wetlands across the country. But there’s a silver lining because wild boar is some of the best-tasting invasive meat you can get.
Leaner and richer in flavor than store-bought pork, wild boar works in everything from smoked barbecue to hearty chili. Grind it for burgers, braise it for tacos, or go full gourmet with wild boar ragu over pasta.
Bonus: Feral hog hunting is encouraged in many states, so you’re not just getting a great meal, you’re doing conservation work with every bite.
See the USFWS list here, with photos
So what will it be for you? Grilled nutria, or iguana stew? With the wonders of the Internet, it’s easy now to find recipes for just about any animal. Make sure you follow local game laws, but chances are your local wardens will be happy to see you taking these species out of their jurisdiction.
Carp are popular table fare in Europe and Asia. [Sam Stukel/USFWS]
And while you’re chowing down on snakehead tacos, think to yourself how good they have it in New Zealand, where their invasive species are things like red stags. Carp might be good, if prepared right, but I know that I’d take a set of venison tenderloins any day…
The post Hogs, Iguanas And More: The USFWS Says You Should Eat These Invasive Species appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
Hogs, Iguanas And More: The USFWS Says You Should Eat These Invasive Species
Want to broaden your palette, and try something new to eat? Or maybe you have a hankering for wild game, but don’t want to endanger indigenous species that are having a rough time? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a suggestion: Try eating an invasive species instead.
Specifically, the USFWS has listed five species for you to try. These aren’t available across the entirety of United States, but if you live in mid-to-lower part of the Lower 48, you should be able to get a shot off at one of these species, or throw a line in, without driving too terribly far.
Asterix and his friends in ancient Gaul ate wild boar, and you can too. [Steve Hillebrand/USFWS]
Here’s the official list:
Nutria (Myocastor coypus)
Native to: South America
Invasive in: Gulf of America Coast, Atlantic Coast, Pacific Northwest
These oversized, wetland-loving rodents were brought to the U.S. for the fur trade and now they’re devouring marshlands. Ok, so how can we help? Nutria gumbo. Their meat is lean, mild, and tastes like rabbit.
Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)
Native to: East Asia
Invasive in: Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. waterways
Because this sharp-toothed facultative air breather can live outside a body of water for several days, it has the ability to wiggle its way to other freshwater habitats. Luckily, they’re delicious with a firm, white, and flaky meat. Try them in fish tacos, grilled, or fried. Just make sure they don’t bite you first.
Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Native to: Central and South America
Invasive in: Florida and other warm states
These cold-blooded invaders are eating Florida’s native plants and destabilizing seawalls. The solution? Iguana stew. Their meat is often called “chicken of the trees” for its mild flavor.
Invasive Carp (Bighead, Silver, Black Carp and Grass Carp species)
Native to: East Asia
Invasive in: Midwest and Southeast rivers and lakes
These high-jumping fish are clogging U.S. waterways and outcompeting native species. Often spotted on viral videos slapping some unlucky angler in the face as it bounds into a passing boat, these fish are wreaking havoc on our fisheries. Here’s the good news, they’re surprisingly tasty. Try them grilled, blackened, or turned into crispy fish cakes.
Feral Hogs or Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)
Native to: Europe and Asia
Invasive in: Southeastern U.S., Texas, California, and beyond
Be gone, you feral swine! They aren’t just invasive, they’re a full-blown ecological disaster. Rooting, trampling, and devouring everything in their path, these piggies are tearing up farmland, forests, and wetlands across the country. But there’s a silver lining because wild boar is some of the best-tasting invasive meat you can get.
Leaner and richer in flavor than store-bought pork, wild boar works in everything from smoked barbecue to hearty chili. Grind it for burgers, braise it for tacos, or go full gourmet with wild boar ragu over pasta.
Bonus: Feral hog hunting is encouraged in many states, so you’re not just getting a great meal, you’re doing conservation work with every bite.
See the USFWS list here, with photos
So what will it be for you? Grilled nutria, or iguana stew? With the wonders of the Internet, it’s easy now to find recipes for just about any animal. Make sure you follow local game laws, but chances are your local wardens will be happy to see you taking these species out of their jurisdiction.
Carp are popular table fare in Europe and Asia. [Sam Stukel/USFWS]
And while you’re chowing down on snakehead tacos, think to yourself how good they have it in New Zealand, where their invasive species are things like red stags. Carp might be good, if prepared right, but I know that I’d take a set of venison tenderloins any day…
The post Hogs, Iguanas And More: The USFWS Says You Should Eat These Invasive Species appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...