Nutrias are originally from South America. The story I've heard, was that they escaped from a zoo in Louisiana that was destroyed in a hurricane. They took up in the marshes and have thrived. They're all over the southeast now. A big one typically weighs 15-20 lbs. I've killed several hundred of them, but never have been able to bring myself to eat one. Just imagine a 20 lb. gopher rat and you'll be thinking of a nutria.