The Venice Massacre

The Venice Massacre

Coastal Restoration gets an unconventional, somewhat bloody rebrand at the annual Nutria Rodeo

Chris Turner-Neal

Pest control will take on a festive air February 24-25 in Venice during the 2023 Swamp Safari Shootout Nutria Rodeo, where the marsh-destroying nibblers will be the target of squadrons of hunters competing to bag cash prizes for bringing in the most and the biggest nutria. Those who come up short in these categories can still hope for prizes in “best team name,” “best team costume,” and the nutria toss (judged by distance). In 2022, sixty-two teams removed 1,934 nutrias from the Delta, and organizers hope to meet or match that tally this year. After weigh-in, many of the late nutria will be provided to the Audubon Zoo to allow their resident alligators a taste from their wild cousins’ menu.

According to publicist James Haik, while the event is fun, it also draws attention to the swamp and efforts to keep Louisiana’s wetlands intact. Most people know about the damage the invasive nutria population causes, but it’s important to realize that there are ways of addressing the issue. It’s unlikely that Louisiana will ever eradicate the nutria, but keeping the population suppressed can still benefit the swamps and the people who rely on them—which if you count their role in flood control, is effectively everyone south of Alexandria.

Non-hunters are welcome at the event and will have plenty to do—though to keep in the spirit of things, if you see a nutria, give it a dirty look. Cajun music will play both nights and vendors will sell alcohol, crawfish, and other food. The adventurous can sample the products of the nutria cook-off, which appears for the first time in an official capacity after some dabbling in jambalaya and gumbo in previous years. (Per Haik, the meat has the slight gaminess people will recognize from all wild meat, along with the chickeny-but-not-quite-chicken texture of water animals—think frog legs.) Plus, you’ll know you’re cheering on efforts to save Louisiana’s wetlands, one not-so-cuddly critter at a time.

Early registration is $35 per boat, with day-of registration $45. There is no limit to the number of team members per boat; it’s one boat per team, so no pulling together an armada. Hunters will be required to follow all Louisiana hunting rules and regulations, and those competing for most nutria must get a trapper’s license. (At a bounty of six dollars per tail, the trapper’s license will pay for itself in a half-dozen nutria.) Also of note: all winners will have to pass a polygraph test (visible to the public), so no showing up with nutrias hidden in your waders to pad your figures. Regulations, details, and more information online at nutriarodeo.com.