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USDA FOREST SERVICE
In 1830, chinaberry was introduced to the US as an ornamental tree; it later spread into forests across the SouthChinaberry trees, initially brought to the Southern U.S. in the 1830s for their beauty, have proliferated extensively. These invasive speci...- Japanese climbing fern came to the US as an ornamental; it now spreads across at least 6 Southern states, climbing over trees and helping fire reach their crownsJapanese climbing ferns, introduced for ornamental purposes, have proliferated across southern forests since the early 1900s. These ferns p...
- In 1927, the US brought in weeping lovegrass for cattle and erosion control; one strain was later planted across 2 million acres of Oklahoma and TexasInitially introduced to the U.S. in the 1930s to alleviate soil erosion caused by the Dust Bowl, weeping lovegrass rapidly expanded across ...
- Before 1850, Americans grew Dyer’s woad for blue dye; in the Great Basin, one infestation later grew from 12,000 to 150,000 acres in eight yearsDyer's woad, once used for blue dye, has become an invasive species in the American West. This plant produces a high number of seeds and th...
- USDA and CBP spent $861 million checking travellers and cargo for farm pests in 2011, but fees left a $325 million gap because federal law limits who paysThe United States has struggled with funding for its Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program due to fee shortfalls. In 2011, the program...
- In 1921, America introduced cogongrass as a forage crop; later used for soil control, the invasive grass now covers more than 1 million acres in FloridaCogongrass was brought to the United States in the early 20th century with the noble goal of supporting agriculture and curbing erosion. Ho...
- Siberian elm was widely planted in America for windbreaks and as a disease-tolerant shade tree; it escaped cultivation and is now considered invasive in 41 statesSiberian elm, initially introduced to American landscapes for its Dutch elm disease resistance, soon proved problematic as it became invasi...
- This invasive fungus removed an iconic American tree from its ecosystem in 1904. Can scientists revive it in 2026? Know hereA genetically engineered chestnut has cleared a major federal hurdle a century after an invasive fungus almost wiped out one of America’s m...
- In 2001, Kentucky flagged 6.5 miles of Triplett Creek for silt and nutrient pollution. 21 years later, monitoring found it met standards and cleared 2 pollution listingsTriplett Creek water quality: Triplett Creek's water quality improved significantly after extensive restoration work. Years of planning and...
- In 1772, Benjamin Franklin sent Chinese tallow seeds to Savannah, Georgia; the government planted more along the Gulf in 1900, and the tree now covers 185,000 hectaresIn the late 1700s, a shipment of 1772 seeds sparked a significant invasion of non-native trees across southern U.S. forests. The federal pl...
- After someone planted golden bamboo beside an Oʻahu road, the single ornamental planting escaped and grew into a 1-acre patch, crowding out native plantsGolden bamboo, once a beloved addition to gardens, is now recognized as an invasive menace. Its rapid growth through underground rhizomes t...
- Since 1997, Florida has released Australian insects to help control melaleuca in the Everglades; its invaded range has shrunk by nearly 75% alongside herbicide and mechanical removalIn Florida's Everglades, Australian insects played a crucial role in curbing the spread of invasive melaleuca trees. By targeting these tre...
- Since 2022, Alaska crews have placed more than 1,000 whole trees in a creek damaged by gold mining, helping restore 2.3 miles of salmon habitatResurrection Creek in Alaska has been revitalized into a thriving river thanks to comprehensive restoration efforts. By introducing entire ...
- In the 1500s, European settlers brought pigs to North America as travelling food; more than 6 million feral swine now occupy at least 35 statesEuropean pigs introduced centuries ago became invasive feral swine across North America. These adaptable animals now inhabit diverse enviro...
- Canadian researchers “cleaned up” burned forest by removing every dead tree; bird abundance fell 50% in areas without snags for food, perching, and nestingClearing away dead trees after forest fires can lead to a notable decline in bird numbers. These standing dead trees are essential, offerin...
- In 1988, USDA scientists released just 88 flea beetles in North Dakota; their descendants multiplied into hundreds of millions across North AmericaIn North Dakota, a targeted release of flea beetles marked the beginning of a successful biological control initiative. These beetles flour...
- In the 1930s, the Dust Bowl devastated America but Franklin D. Roosevelt's massive tree-planting project is still protecting US farmland nearly 90 years laterThe Dust Bowl is one of the worst environmental disasters in American history, but it also sparked one of the country's largest conservatio...
- In 1869, a French entomologist breeding European moths for an American silk industry let some escape; their descendants defoliated entire forestsAn amateur entomologist's escaped moths in 1869 led to widespread forest defoliation across America. This invasive insect has since damaged...
- In 1971, an Apollo 14 astronaut carried hundreds of tree seeds around the Moon, and most Americans have no idea they are walking past them every dayAstronaut Stuart Roosa carried tree seeds around the Moon on Apollo 14, a mission that unexpectedly led to the creation of "Moon Trees." De...
- As US wildfires rage, Trump staff cuts force firefighters to clean toilets, critics sayUS Forest Service faces criticism. Current and former employees claim staff shortages due to Trump administration cuts. Firefighters in Ore...
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