Friday I spotted a nutria and two offspring swimming around in my lake. They are not welcome. I am not the sharing type. From a quick look see at the Texas regulations, nutria are classified as fur bearing animals, and it is illegal to shoot fur bearing animals from a boat. Anyone have any rationale for this? No one argues that they are a non-native species capable of inflicting severe damage to a small area. Why then must I catch them on land to shoot the darn things? Just wondering.

"my lake"

Is that your personal lake (tank or pond) on your property?

If so, I'd take them out by whatever means appropriate and bury the remains. That would just be me and only in that specific instance.

Contact a local game warden and describe the situation if it's your property. If it's public land then you are pretty much bound by the book.

By the way....howdy neighbor!

It is a private lake, about 400 acres. There are nine of us that own the land around the lake. No public access whatsoever. Fished there last week. Five days and so no other boats except my partner and his wife. I am sorry to say that where the nutria are is not around my land. The west end of the lake is shallow with lots and lots of cattails. It is there that the nutria reside. BTW, howdy back.

Just shoot the south american water rats. They multiply like hogs..lol

There would be no harm in calling the local game warden and explaining the situation. You can find your local one I believe on the texas website.

Failing that, take a scoped .22 out next time. I don't believe the removal of nusance Nutria from private land would be high on the list of enforcement priorities.

You might not be that effective in controlling or eliminating the population though overall. There are likely quite a few more....just as in cockroaches etc.

Kinda what I thought. If you see three there are thirty back in there. Might be fun with the ole 22, although shooting with a scope from a boat might be a tough, tough shot.

Get a handle on them now and shoot every one of them!

I've caught them in a "have a heart" type trap. Put the trap at water's edge and bait with cabbage. Cut it up and put some in the trap and some out in the water leading to the trap. It works during the winter when they're real hungry and might even work now.
Charlie

This link might help you out:

www.wildlifemanagement.info/publications/muskrats_5.pdf

Looks like they can be shot, trapped or poisoned anytime they are causing damage. I would get with the TPWD. They would probably do it for you or refer you to someone.

Kevin
(I know the link says muskrat but the entire document is about nutria.)

What you need is called an alligator.

Shoot the hell out of 'em. Also, you can flush 'em out of their shoreline holes by shooting water into them with your boat motor prop, when they come out, be waitin' for 'em!!

As per TP&WD you may remove them by using trapping & shooting because they burrow into the tank dams and create water leaks and ruins the body of water. They can also transfer noxious aquatic plants from tank to tank. Remove them at your lesuire.

I shot five of them last year on a lease in south Texas, at the owner's request. Shot one with a 17HMR at 60 yards while he was swimming, right in the side of the head.

Use that "have a heart" trap, and when they get in there, shoot them. hehe

If it is your private lake you should be able to dispose of them at your leisure as they are capable of destroying your property.

22 mag.

Scope.

BOOM!