A Louisiana is ecstatic after winning a legal battle to keep their pet rodent that they rescued from the side of the road after state officials tried to take the pet away.
Danny Lacoste was driving outside of New Orleans when he saw an injured rodent that had been hit by a car. Feeling an overwhelming need to help, Lacoste went to the aid of the animal, a nutria, and took it in to give care and first aid. Louisiana state officials attempted to swoop in and take the nutria, but the family fought back and managed to keep their beloved pet, named Neuty. Denny explained to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson that the animal was too scared for him to get rid of:
“He was just a little hurt animal. We felt sorry for him.”
Neuty the Nutria's human family joins Tucker Carlson after the state of Louisiana tried to seize the rodent that they rescued and raised. pic.twitter.com/GxpRBNZp8u
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 14, 2023
The Lacoste family says that the entire town loves Neuty, but that doesn’t mean the rodent always keeps its nose out of trouble. The mischievous nutria seems to have taken a liking to eating things that we humans would not consider food:
“Besides eating pancakes and stuff like that, he loves wires, sofa wires, any kind of wires, phone chargers, you got to pick all that up. I don’t know why he loves wires.”
“He is a lot of work. He kind of listens like a cat, not too good.”
According to Live Science, Nutrias are considered an invasive species in many parts of America, and their presence may harm delicate ecosystems. They write:
“These mammals are native to South America and were introduced into the United States between 1899 and 1930 through the fur industry, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nutria are now considered a nuisance in the U.S. and other parts of the world where their populations have grown and their presence has disrupted the native ecosystem.”
For those unfamiliar with the giant rodent, nutria can grow to over 20 inches long and weigh over 20 pounds. Looking like a mix between a beaver and a giant rat, nutria can often grow to the size of a raccoon. Live Science adds that:
“Nutria are aquatic creatures and prefer freshwater to saltwater. They live in burrows connected by tunnels that they dig near rivers, canals, lakes or in wetlands, according to National Geographic.
“These animals live in groups that typically consist of two to 13 individuals, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology’s Animal Diversity Web. The group often includes related adult females, their offspring and a single adult male. Young adult males are usually solitary, but don’t often wander far from where they were born. Males have a home range of about 14 acres, while females stay even closer to home, keeping within about a 6-acre radius.”
Now that Neuty the nutria has been granted the right to stay with the Lacoste family, the internet is excited to see what comes next for the giant rodent. Though he likely has no idea, hundreds of thousands of people tuned in to hear his epic story.
The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded Tweet.
"*" indicates required fields