The nutria control projects aims to eliminate damage to wetlands and establish and/or enhance markets resulting in increased price, harvest and control of nutria. Short term objectives 1). To compile, analyze, summarize data that will provide guidance in the development of a nutria control program and 2). Provide data to better explain to the public and decision-makers the consequences of this damage and the need for funding a nutria control program. This information will be essential in seeking funding for a comprehensive nutria control program.

Task IV. 1
Conduct a comprehensive search and review of published and unpublished literature, reports and data relating to 1) the biology and natural history of nutria; 2) the chronology and details of their release, population fluctuations, and harvest (as influenced by the fur market) in Louisiana; 3) their interaction with, and affect on, other animal populations in Louisiana; and 4) their interaction with, and affect on, wetland habitats in Louisiana. Synthesize all available information and produce a final report with a concise and well-written executive summary of those findings most pertinent to a potential nutria control program.

Task IV.2
Conduct a comprehensive review of all socioeconomic and cultural information (published and unpublished) on nutria in Louisiana related to historic harvest, value, related jobs, and current wetland damage and loss due to nutria over-population. Predict future impacts of continued over-population on wetland habitat (type, quality, and abundance), wetlands use values, related jobs, and cultural changes. Synthesize available information and predictions and produce a final report with a concise and well-written executive summary.

Task IV.3
Conduct a comprehensive review of published and unpublished data related to all appropriate population control methods and analyze their applicability to controlling nutria in Louisiana. Control methods may include, but are not limited to government trapping, poisoning, shooting, chemo-sterilization, and incentive payments to increase trapper harvest. At a minimum, the analysis should identify potential positive and negative direct and indirect impacts to other animal species (e.g. alligator, small mammals) and rank potential methods relative to efficiency and cost. Prepare a final report summarizing the review, analysis and ranking of the potential nutria control methods; the report shall include a concise and well-written executive summary.

Task IV.4
Based on information provided in Task IV - 1, 2 and 3, develop an information/media packet that 1) explains the significance of historic and projected nutria damage in Louisiana; 2) explains the need for nutria population control; 3) describes the top-ranking options for control (including cost, cost effectiveness, positive and negative impacts, etc.) Additionally, the packet shall describe a comprehensive recommended plan, as developed by LDWF personnel, to control nutria populations and the associated damages. The packet shall include, but is not limited to, a brochure with photos and maps explaining nutria damage, the impact on wetlands, socioeconomic/cultural impacts, the need to control nutria to eliminate or reduce this damage, and the recommended plan for control.