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INVASIVE SPECIES
In 2002, a Maryland angler caught a fish unlike anything he had seen before. The discovery sparked panic, inspired horror movies and the snakehead species became one of America's most notorious invasive fishA strange fish caught in a Maryland pond in 2002 soon became the center of a nationwide invasive species scare. The discovery of the northe...- In 1905, Hawaii introduced mosquitofish to fight mosquitoes. More than 100 years later, the fish is threatening native wildlifeAn invasive species, mosquitofish, introduced to Hawaii in 1905 poses a significant threat to the islands' native freshwater ecosystem. The...
- How a mosquitofish brought in to kill mosquito larvae became major freshwater ecosystem problemA fish introduced to Hawaii over a century ago now threatens native freshwater wildlife. The mosquitofish, brought to control mosquitoes, n...
- In the 1980s, Pablo Escobar brought 4 hippos to Colombia. Today, they have become the world's largest invasive hippo populationPablo Escobar's four imported hippos have spawned Colombia's largest invasive population, disrupting local ecosystems. These robust animals...
- 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...
- In the 1930s, just 9 to 20 foreign ant queens apparently stowed away on a ship; their descendants now infest more than 367 million U.S. acresA few fire ant queens arriving in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1930s established a widespread infestation. These invasive insects now infest ove...
- 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...
- In 1955, Hawaiʻi released a predatory snail to control giant African snails; it climbed into native forests and helped wipe out rare tree snailsIn Hawaii, the introduction of the rosy wolfsnail was intended to combat a pest, but it drastically backfired. Instead of targeting its int...
- The hidden owl war: An invasive owl is conquering ancient forests, putting the threatened northern spotted owl at even greater riskInvasive barred owls are occupying ancient forests vital for northern spotted owls. These aggressive competitors concentrate in the exact h...
- In 1958, an American ornithologist found pigs devastating a remote Pacific atoll and the removal of 58 pigs was followed by a seabird increase from 650 to 137,000In 1958, an ornithologist took decisive action by removing feral pigs from Clipperton Island, leading to a remarkable recovery of seabird p...
- In 1884, Louisiana displayed South American water hyacinth for its lavender flowers; within decades, floating mats covered 126,000 Florida acres and blocked waterwaysOriginating in 1884, water hyacinth transformed into a significant nuisance for Florida by the 1950s. This aggressive floating plant overto...
- In 1920, Washington planted 507 Norway maples along 16th Street to honor its war dead; the invasive species later spread into Rock Creek ParkIn 1920, Washington DC planted Norway maples as a tribute to World War I veterans. Initially seen as a living memorial, these trees became ...
- In the early 1970s, Maui planted miconia for its spectacular purple leaves; its descendants spread across East Maui and threatened native forest watershedsIntroduced to Maui in the 1970s, Miconia calvescens, known as the velvet tree, has emerged as a significant invasive species. Its swift spr...
- In the 1860s, America introduced burning bush as an ornamental; birds later helped spread it into forests across 21 invaded statesThe burning bush, native to Asia, became well-liked for its vibrant autumn hues. Birds transport its seeds, helping it escape confined land...
- Around 1745, America imported mimosa for its fragrant pink flowers; it later spread into forests across the southern USMimosa, an ornamental tree brought from Asia in the mid-18th century, has thrived in the American South, but its aggressive spread poses a ...
- In the early 1900s, Hawaiʻi imported a thorny European shrub to feed sheep and fence pastures; it now forms 6-foot walls that fuel fires and sprout againGorse, introduced to Hawai'i around 1900 for sheep fodder and fences, has become a persistent invasive problem. This spiny shrub thrives in...
- In the 1800s, Americans planted tamarisk for windbreaks and erosion control; by 2005, the tree had spread across western river systems and become a major management concernTamarisk was originally brought in for various practical applications, but it has since proliferated across western waterways. This invasiv...
- In the 1980s, Burmese pythons released or escaped from Florida’s pet trade began reproducing in the Everglades; scientists linked them to sharp declines in native mammalsBurmese pythons, a species introduced to Florida decades ago, are now posing significant threats to the wildlife in the Everglades. Scienti...
- Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio put $200 million behind 100 endangered species across 30 countries. The list includes rare lemurs and pangolins to a ‘living fossil’ echidnaJeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio have launched a $200 million conservation project to help 100 critically endangered species across 30 coun...
- In the 1970s, the US introduced four carp species to control weeds; decades later, these carp spread as far as Minnesota, threatening native fishFour Chinese carp species were imported to southern fish farms in the 1970s. These fish escaped into the Mississippi River system after flo...
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