Alleged Nutria Release Sparks Political Tensions Between Louisiana and California

Circumstantial evidence suggests Louisiana officials may be behind the rodent invasion plaguing California's agriculture.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:34am

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A fractured, abstract painting of a swarm of orange-toothed rodents crawling across a California landscape, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of earthy colors, conceptually representing the political tensions and environmental damage caused by the alleged release of the invasive species.A political feud between Louisiana and California may have unleashed an army of destructive nutria upon the Golden State's agriculture.Merced Today

A recent surge of nutria, an invasive orange-toothed rodent, in California has sparked speculation that the creatures were intentionally released from Louisiana as an act of political retaliation. While the California Department of Wildlife suggests the nutria are more closely related to those found in Oregon, the timing of their reappearance in 2017 has raised suspicions, especially given the ongoing political tensions between the leadership of the two states.

Why it matters

The nutria infestation poses a serious threat to California's agricultural industry, causing extensive damage to crops and infrastructure. If the allegations of intentional release are true, it would represent a concerning escalation of the political feud between Louisiana and California, potentially leading to further retaliatory actions and damaging the relationship between the two states.

The details

In 2017, a pregnant nutria was discovered in Merced County, California, which is close to the state capital of Sacramento. This discovery came years after California had previously eradicated the rodents in the 1970s. The timing of the nutria's reappearance has led some to speculate that the creatures were brought to California and intentionally released, potentially by Louisiana officials, as an act of political retaliation against the state's leadership.

  • In the 1970s, California eradicated nutria from the state.
  • In 2017, a pregnant nutria was discovered in Merced County, California, close to the state capital of Sacramento.

The players

Liz Murril

The Attorney General of Louisiana.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California.

Jeff Landry

The former Attorney General of Louisiana.

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What they’re saying

“We apologize for the offensive language in the "tweet." Or is an "x" now?”

— Liz Murril, Attorney General of Louisiana

What’s next

The California Department of Wildlife is continuing to investigate the origins of the nutria population and explore ways to mitigate the damage to the state's agriculture.

The takeaway

This case highlights the escalating political tensions between Louisiana and California, with allegations of intentional retaliation through the release of an invasive species that threatens California's economy. It raises concerns about the potential for further retaliatory actions and the need for improved cooperation and communication between the two states.