Managing Invasive Nutria: The Role of Olfactory Cues

Abstract

Nutria were introduced from South America to the United States in the 1930s for fur farms and, due to releases and escapees, are currently established in 15 states. Nutria are important to the Louisiana fur industry, but they also cause extensive damage to coastal marsh ecosystems when populations are high. Louisiana uses an incentive program for hunters and trappers during trapping season (winter), which helps to control the fast-growing nutria populations. While this approach is effective, additional management tools are needed to control nutria year-round and over large areas. Other tools for nutria control include toxicants, baits and lures, and multiple-capture traps. In this study, we evaluated nutria responses to olfactory cues in a Y-maze that potentially could be used as lures in traps or bait stations. Three olfactory cues were selected more frequently than others: Nutria #1 (apple-based commercial lure), nutria gland secretion, and female nutria fur extract. We also evaluated attention by nutria to two species of fertilized and non-fertilized marsh plants that potentially could be used as lures in multiple-capture traps on coastal marsh. Nutria did not show a strong preference for either plant species, but they gave significantly more attention to fertilized plants than non-fertilized plants or soil treatments. Results with nutria urine were equivocal. The materials identified in this study show potential for the development of additional tools to manage nutria populations and their impacts on coastal marsh ecosystems.