WASHINGTON _ A rookie California lawmaker hauled a 20-pound rodent carcass into Congress this week to press his colleagues for money to fight an invasive species wreaking havoc on his district.
Rep. Josh Harder, D-Calif., hopes a hearing on his bill will convince his colleagues that funding to stop an invasive species in California's Central Valley is sorely needed _ before the problem gets worse and costs drastically increase.
Nutria, a large South American rodent, were found in Merced County two years ago, alarming California wildlife officials because of the rodents' potential to harm infrastructure that moves waters to Central Valley farms and Southern California cities.
