Viral Nutria, 'Neuty,' Dies of Cancer

The Louisiana rodent who sparked a showdown with the state—and then became a local celebrity—has died. Neuty the nutria, rescued as a days-old baby from a roadside in suburban New Orleans on Christmas Eve 2020, passed away in his sleep Saturday after a battle with cancer, his owners said on Instagram. "We are devastated and our hearts hurt," wrote Denny and Myra Lacoste, who had documented Neuty's life for more than 37,000 followers, reports the Guardian.

Nutrias are classified as an invasive species in Louisiana, where they were originally imported to start an alternative fur industry, reports NOLA.com, but Neuty's story turned him into an exception. After wildlife officials moved to seize him under rules governing wild animals, a public backlash and a "Free Neuty" petition with over 17,000 signatures helped secure special permission for the 20-pound animal to stay with the Lacostes. He went on to appear on Tucker Carlson's former Fox News show, visit schools, fairs, and breweries, and pose on a leash with Mardi Gras crowds. Diagnosed in March with an inoperable tumor, he underwent radiation treatment before his health declined. "He literally made us laugh every single day," the Lacostes wrote.