This week, on the heels of the most captures in a single year, Congress members. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. David Valadao (CA-22) introduced bipartisan legislation to respond to the exploding infestation of nutria, giant swamp rats that cause massive damage to crops, levees, and the Delta. 

The Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act would continue funding efforts to eradicate these invasive rodents.

In 2020, Harder worked with President Trump to bring money to California to fight the nacho cheese toothed swamp rats; however, this funding is set to expire this year. This comes as these 40 pound rodents – which eat 25% of their body weight every day and can reproduce 200 offspring every year – have expanded their territory across the Valley. In 2023, 78% of nutria found were in newly infested areas including the northwestern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and throughout the San Joaquin River corridor in Fresno County.

“We’re in a war with giant swamp rats, and our farms, levees, and waterways will pay the price if we lose,” said  Harder, a Tracy Democrat. “We have to keep our foot on the gas to drive these pests out of the Valley for good. I’ll work with anyone to ensure our farmers, water infrastructure, and Delta are no longer plagued by the swamp rat menace.”

Last year, more than 1,300 nutria were captured in California, which is the most in a single year, and more than the last two years combined. Funding for these eradication efforts is critical to ensure that the nutria infestation does not continue to spread.