When the Great Depression hit Louisiana hard, Tabasco heir Edward McIlhenny decided to inject the stagnant economy with a surefire moneymaker: importing nutria from Argentina to bolster the local fur trade. Prolific breeders, these 20-pound rodents with gigantic orange teeth quickly ate their way across the bayou, turning Louisiana’s wetlands into a wasteland. As the fur trade bottomed out, trappers stopped keeping nutrias’ numbers down and the rate of land loss exploded. Still reeling from a series of devastating hurricanes, Louisianans have rallied to address these rodents running amuck through their marsh and help abate the erosion. Further incentivized by a five-dollar bounty for every nutria tail collected, fishermen and other locals are now on the hunt, having found a welcome source of income in the off-season. Evil invasive species, cuddly pet, or highly sustainable local resource? Directors Quinn Costello, Chris Metzler, and Jeff Springer let you decide. Whichever way you fall, this quirky environmental doc delivers a highly engaging tale.  WFM

Q&A following screening