Thanks
to animal rights activists, Hurricane Katrina was more severe than it could
have and should have been. It is a story that sounds so crazy, it could only
happen in the Louisiana bayou country, but it is inevitably spreading along America’s
coastal wetlands. The direct culprit is the burrowing, grass-inhaling mega-swamp
rat called the nutria, but it has been aided and abetted by clueless people.
However, viewers will meet some of the hardy Louisianans who are rising to the
nutria challenge in Quinn Costello, Chris Metzler & Jeff Springer’s Rodents of Unusual Size (trailer here), which screens
during DOC NYC 2017.
Essentially,
Nutria are just plain varmints. They are an invasive species that was
deliberately imported to Louisiana during the Depression to provide jobs on fur
farms. However, during one dark and stormy night, a colony of nutria escaped
their cages into the swamps—an environment perfectly suited to them. For
decades, this was not a problem, because their pelts were valuable to fur
trappers. Hence, their population remained in check. Unfortunately, the bottom
fell out of the market in the 1980s, thanks to the anti-fur campaign.
There
was no longer an incentive to trap nutria, but the nutria continued doing what
rodents do best. As a result, they have literally chewed up the coastal marshlands,
leaving the soil fragile and infertile due to their massive tunneling networks.
Of course, the lush wetlands were a prime defense against serious hurricanes, but
tragically, they were appreciably depleted when Katrina hit.
On
one level, Rodents is an object
lesson in the unintended consequences of cheap, feel-good activism. Yet, it is
also a tribute to Louisiana resiliency. In recent years, the once-exploding
nutria population has actually decreased dramatically, thanks to the $5 bounty
U.S. Fish & Wildlife now pays for every nutria tale. Clearly, there is no
limit to what well-armed and highly-motivated Cajun bounty-hunters can
accomplish, when they put their mind to it.
In
addition, various New Orleanians are working to create sustainable demand for
nutria products. Righteous Fur markets nutria as a guilt-free fur with its
hipster-friendly accessories, while some New Orleans celebrity chefs promote
nutria as a local cuisine. In fact, there is no bigger celebrity chef than
Kermit Ruffins, who fixes up some nutria barbeque for a skeptical audience at
his Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge.
Rodents is a terrific
documentary. It illuminates a fascinating case study, while showing plenty of
sensitivity to local customs and culture. The doc also sounds great, featuring
the music of Ruffins and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. There is even a sly animated
history lesson, narrated by Wendell Pierce that is totally in keeping with the
attitude and sensibilities of the Crescent City and Pelican State. Plus, we
meet a service dog named “George W. Bush” and the title is a Princess Bride reference, so what more
could you ask for?
Maybe
more Ruffins. At a whisker under seventy-minutes, Rodents totally hits it and quits it,
without any wasted time. Yet, it is an important and informative film,
especially given the spread of the nutria population. Very highly recommended, Rodents of Unusual Size screens this
Wednesday (11/15) as part of this year’s DOC NYC.
