What to Do With the Unwanted?

Hi Everyone,

For years I have read a lot about how foreign or invasive species have been damaging our ecosystems here in the United States. Invasive species includes plants and fish to mammals. I learned that one of the biggest threats to endangered species isn't hunting, climate or pollution. It is other animals, specifically, invasive species. Invasive species overrun new territory since they have no natural predators. Consequently, they upend the balance of nature and crowd out native species.

From a Time magazine article regarding the same, they comprised a list of some of the worst invasive species:

        Species                         Country of Origin      Invaded                             Threat

Black Spiny Tailed Iguana     Central America         Florida                     Eat anything including birds

Asian Carp                            Asia                           Missouri &              Voracious eaters that disrupt                                                                                Mississippi rivers      the food chain. They also jump
                                                                                                               out of water, when hear motors.

Nutria                                    South America           Gulf Coast                Eat marsh grasses which destroys
                                                                                                               wetlands. Also make holes in
                                                                                                                levees.

Lion-fish                                Pacific and Indian       The Caribbean          Venomous spines are dangerous
                                             oceans                                                        to fish and people.

Armadillo                               Central and South      Texas and the            Eat anything including endangered
                                              America                     Gulf Coast                sea turtle eggs.

So how to control these invasive species is the question? From what I have read, I believe that the common sense solution is ......... the human appetite. Yes, you read that right! According to the article, if cooked correctly, Iguana tastes like a cross between crab and chicken. Carp tastes like cod. Nutria tastes like chicken. Lionfish tastes like cod and Armadillo tastes like pork. We humans, once we have acquired a taste for certain wild foods, have the potential to over fish and over hunt them to near extinction. So where is the problem of over fishing or over hunting these invasive species? They don't belong here and eating them really makes sense. The problem that I see is getting people to try them. If they like them, they should spread the word.

This is where I have to bring up my own experiences of eating not so normal fare. Since I am from the north east, alligator and snake are not found on menus here. During my travels for an international company, (the world's largest airline catering company, go figure), I made a few trips to Dallas, Texas. That is where, at an Outhouse Steakhouse, at different times, I tried both snake and alligator. Even though the people I was with said that they both tasted like chicken, I was a bit leery. I never knew anyone who had tried either one since it was and still not available around these parts. Much to my surprise, they both tasted great and they both actually did taste like chicken. I would have no hesitation eating them again.

I am sure there are other invasive species that I have not mentioned, lest we forget the wild boars in the Gulf Coast states. They were brought over by Spain, hundreds of years ago and now they are a huge problem, since they eat anything and everything and then some and then some more. And they taste like pork or ham or bacon.......

So to eliminate the above invasive species, my solution is to eat 'em. But first, someone has to catch them,  then someone has to bring them to market, then someone has to cook them, then people have to try them and then the word must be spread. Bon Appetit!

Til next week.

Peter