Nutria rodeo set for Saturday

Tired of seeing holes in levees or getting knocked out of a boat by a flying Asian carp?

If so, the Sassafras Louisiana second annual Nutria Rodeo this Saturday at the Larose Regional Park is the place to be.

“The event started out as a school project when I was a senior at South Lafourche,” said Aaron Guidry, project manager and Sassafras Louisiana board chairman. “I wanted to bring awareness to the species and to the damage this invasive species can do to our area. They dig holes in levees and eat roots that hold dirt in place, and both of these things can cause washouts in waterways.”

Guidry and other members of the nonprofit youth organization that works to bring youth together for coastal restoration and preservation efforts expanded on his high school project last year, turning the assignment into an event that would help rid the area of not only nutria, but other invasive species like Asian carp and feral swine.

“The Asian carp are taking over in several waterways, causing food competition with our native fish species and even knocking people out of boats,” Guidry said. “Feral hogs destroy habitat and eat just about anything.”

In an effort to get more children involved in the event, Guidry and his team added an apple snail category to this year’s rodeo.

“We want to get as many kids involved as possible because this is a youth organization,” he said. “These snails eat vegetation at the bottom of waterways, especially in freshwater marshes like Bayou Black.”

Scales will be open from 2-5 p.m., and the awards ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Those wishing to participate in the rodeo must purchase a $20 ticket, which includes a meal. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place for each species, and place will be determined by weight.

“You can hunt on private lands or any wildlife management area that allows the taking of these species,” Guidry said. “Just bring it to us dead. We will even give award for the most orange teeth in the nutria division.”

Guidry hopes that this year’s event will top last year’s turnout.

“We had more about 250 (people) compete last year and about another 200 came out to the event,” Guidry continued. “For the first year of event, that was very successful. We had students from New Orleans, a guy from Texas and even a few people from some northern states that came down to compete. Others from places like Canada and California even ordered rodeo T-shirts from the web site.”

For those not competing, the free event will feature Cajun cuisine, live music from Nonc Nu and Da Wild Matous, information booths and exhibits and demonstrations on how to cook nutria. T-shirts will be available for $15, and visitors will also be able to ride a mechanical bull dressed as nutria. Tickets and T-shirts can also be purchased at www.sassafrasla.org.

“Even though the Nutria Rodeo began as a flight of fancy, Sassafras Louisiana turned it into a meaningful event,” said event co -founder Caroline Guidry. “I’m proud of the work we did and excited for what’s to come. Rumor has it that there will be nutria spaghetti.”