News - State
New show puts Nutria hunters in the national spotlight
Posted: Jul 30, 2012 6:28 PM by Erin Steuber
Updated: Jul 30, 2012 6:49 PM
A new show premiering Tuesday, July 31 on Spike TV, will put Nutria rat-hunting in the national spotlight. KATC's Erin Steuber spent time with the cast and explains why the show is far more than just entertainment. Six St. Landry residents have been waging war on Nutria for years. Now, they're showing off their talent to the world.
"It's a little reality show we did and we're literally out there eradicating the nutra off the marshes that are out there destroying the marsh land," said cast member Jack "Skeeter" Ray.
Nutria's' primary foods? Grass and roots. That diet destroys the eco-system, leading to the erosion of marshes. But the show is not for the squeamish, they do kill the animals.
"We're not on a catch and release program, not my group anyhow," said Ray. "We only catch, kill, clean, cut, season and put in the pot. We like to eat 'em, we don't believe in wasting good meat."
Nutria have only two predators, humans and alligators. But the gators can't kill enough, giving rise to Nutria hunters like Mike, also known as "Squirrel."
"There's no way you can kill them all, but you're going to kill as many as you can to balance it," said cast member Mike "squirrel" Bihm. "This is an invasive species that should have never been here."
The show, called Rat B*stards, has been in the works since November. One of the hunters, Shane Fontenot, was contacted by a friend who works for Spike. The cast has filmed six episodes so far, they say you better be prepared to laugh.
"We're like in the center of Louisiana, about where your ankle would be, you know," said Fontenot. "So you know when you twist your ankle? That's where you'd be right now. These are a bunch of twisted cats over here, you know? A bunch of outlaws and misfits."
The show premieres tomorrow night at 9:30 on Spike TV.
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