***Update***
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has agreed to allow the owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria to keep the pet under special conditions. The Jefferson Parish couple has applied for a permit and LDWF says they are working out an agreement. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents are on the hunt to seize Neuty, a Jefferson Parish couple’s 22-pound pet nutria. State law says nutria are considered invasive species and are to be kept in the wild. Neuty will be moved to the Baton Rouge Zoo to become a part of an educational exhibit. LDWF Spokesperson Ed Pratt says there is no state license or permit that allows an individual to own a nutria.
“It’s illegal to have a nutria as a pet in your home,” said Pratt.
News stories began circulating about the couple’s relationship with the rodent on Wednesday. Pratt says when the status was made public – the department decided to move forward to confiscate the animal.
“We are making arrangements that the nutria will be removed – taken to a rehabbed and then that rehabber would then give it to the BREC Zoo and they would take care of it,” said Pratt.
LDWF biologists and Zoo officials believe because the animal has been habituated to humans, it would not be able to survive in the wild. Pratt says the agency appreciates the owner’s affection for Neuty but the rodent can no longer live with them.
“It’s just one of those things. We have to obey the law and we have to do the things we need to do to make sure the public is safe,” said Pratt.
LDWF discourages the public from housing wild animals as pets.
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