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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Crime Nutria Spooks Woman in Wal Mart

Posted by Sarah Mirk on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM

I don't know what's funnier: that a swamp rodent took up residence in a Louisiana WalMart or that the WalMart employees were allegedly keeping the thing as a pet and had named it Norman. Sadly, things got out of hand when the nutria scurried across an aisle, causing a woman to shriek and sue for $2000 in psychological damage.

That's intriguing, because it's the exact same response Matt Davis had when he hunted for nutria in Milwaukie back in the fall, but he hasn't gotten around to suing anyone yet. Even though, as the above article grimly reminds us, "Nutria have bright orange buck teeth and can weigh up to 18 pounds."

I figure there has to be some other side to this story - who are these nutria lovers who harbor the rat-tailed rodents as pets? The WalMart employees aren't speaking up in Norman's defense. In fact, the only nutria defender I can find is this bizarre little Beaverton blog that is home to this equally bizarre little poll:

Question: Are nutria cute?

Answers Percent
1. Yes - 43%
2. No - 11%
3. Sometimes - 9%
4. Only the babies - 6%
5. What? Those giant rats?! You've gotta be kidding me! - 32%

30dd/1242768172-nutria_1.jpg

So nutria lovers are a silent majority! Who knew? Meanwhile, the Statesman Journal has some sage advice for how to humanely put down nutria: shoot them in the head.

 

Comments (8) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Did you check out the Nutria Defenders doll category?!?! EEKS!
Posted by alyson clair on May 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM · Report
2
Someone I met in the desert once gave me a tin of Nutria Anus Balm to keep my lips from becoming chapped.

http://www.ofrenda.org/theta/nutria/
Posted by Bob R. on May 19, 2009 at 2:56 PM · Report
3
Gross, they have their teats on their backs?
Posted by Demondog on May 19, 2009 at 3:00 PM · Report
4
"Gross, they have their teats on their backs?"

Important lesson: Never evolve while standing upright in a windstorm.
Posted by Bob R. on May 19, 2009 at 3:16 PM · Report
5
It's all bad news.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/5692751.htm…
Posted by J_Renaud on May 19, 2009 at 4:03 PM · Report
6
Is there any particular reason that first link isn't a link?
Posted by A CAT, probably on May 19, 2009 at 5:46 PM · Report
7
Yes, there is. The "href" portion of the link is misspelled "rhef"
Posted by ROM on May 19, 2009 at 6:35 PM · Report
8
Thanks, ROM. I guess I should have asked that over on Answerville.
Posted by A CAT, probably on May 19, 2009 at 7:10 PM · Report

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