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Invasive lionfish swims over a Florida coral reef with other reef fish.
Lionfish An unwanted invader in Florida's coral reefs. © Jeff Yonover

Stories in Florida

Slowing the Spread of Invasive Species

The threat posed by invasive species is second only to habitat destruction through development.

September 11, 2018 | Last updated September 30, 2022

What Are the Invasive Species in Florida?

Feral pigs churn up natural environments like a plow. Spectacular-looking lionfish along the coast voraciously devour juvenile reef fish. Old World climbing fern fronds, up to 125-feet long, smother everything beneath them. Non-native forest pests threaten Florida’s natural lands, orchards, street trees, and forest industry—with additional pests like emerald ash borer coming increasingly closer to the state. Invasive, non-native species such as these cause serious damage when introduced to Florida’s natural lands. Indeed, the threat they pose is second only to the direct destruction of habitats through development. 

A large lizard sits in a grassy, suburban yard in Homestead, Florida while sticking its forked tongue out.
Tegu Lizard Argentine black and white tegu lizards can grow to 5 feet long and are omnivores that feast on eggs of ground-nesting birds and reptiles. © Karine Aigner and Ken Geiger

Because Florida’s climate is so hospitable, invasive species cause more of a crisis here than anywhere else in the continental United States. The fact that Florida is the world leader in the reptile trade, and serves as point of entry for almost three-fourths of all plants imported into the U.S., compounds the problem. 

All of Florida’s native habitats—marine, freshwater and terrestrial—are threatened by invasive species. The cost of managing Florida’s invasive plants alone is estimated at $100 million each year; the cost of animal management could easily exceed this.

TNC is taking steps to help keep nature in balance and protect human communities.

TNC’s Strategy Is Straightforward:

  1. Prevent future invasions of non-native species. 
  2. Quickly detect and respond to an invasion when it occurs.
  3. Protect native habitats by minimizing the damage caused by invasive species that are challenging or impossible to eradicate.

Taking Action Steps

A forest with trees covered thickly with lygodium ferns
Lygodium microphyllum Old World climbing fern is a great threat to Florida’s native plants and animals. Its fronds grow up to 125 feet, suffocating everything beneath them. © Eric Blackmore

Policy

TNC staff serve on state and federal advisory committees, and inform policy-makers with the latest and best scientific advice. Certain non-native plants can wreak havoc on agricultural systems as well as natural habitats. Along with the University of Florida, TNC successfully advanced the adoption of a screening tool that predicts which plant species – including those being proposed as biofuels—might become invasive. UF now requires its extension agents to reference this tool before recommending plants. This tool also influences state policy, through the inclusion of UF on a state committee responsible for listing Florida’s worst weeds, which determines whether they are allowed to be sold and planted in Florida. TNC staff advocate for a similar proactive risk assessment of non-native animals.

Invasive Emerald Ash Borer sits on a piece of wood.
Invasive Emerald Ash Borer The emerald ash borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees so far and threatens to kill most of the 8.7 billion ash trees throughout North America. © Debbie Miller, USDA Forest Service

Science

TNC works to advance the science that underpins management and policy decisions focused on reducing the impact of invasive species. Along with Cornell University, the USDA Forest Service, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and Purdue University, TNC published a study showing that insects and diseases, including non-native wood-boring insects, reduce a forest’s long-term ability to capture and store carbon. This study not only called the alarm, but importantly pointed to solutions to address the threat, including; improving forest management practices, strengthening polices to prevent non-native pests from entering North America, and promoting “slow the spread” programs – such as the Don't Move Firewood campaign.

A large Burmese python coiled up.
Burmese Python One of the world’s largest snakes, they are now well-established in the Everglades due to being released by pet owners. They eat endangered native wading birds and deer. © Kris Serbesoff-King/TNC

Best Practices

When Burmese pythons were spotted swimming from the Everglades toward the Florida Keys, TNC created Python Patrol, and, once established, transferred this program to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This early-detection, rapid-response can help slow the spread of these non-native constrictor snakes. Python Patrol trains community workers to identify the snakes and call in sightings; wildlife professionals can then capture the snakes, which snack on endangered species and can grow longer than 20 feet.

A feral hog roots into the dirt in search of food.
Feral Hog Feral hogs root like rototillers and steal more than $800 million per year from Florida's agricultural industry. © Joe Di Donato

Land Management

Because TNC owns and manages property, we understand the complexities and difficulties that public conservation lands face. As part of TNC's Center for Conservation Initiatives, stewardship staff strive to minimize the threat of invasive non-native species to advance natural resource management. TNC implements decontamination procedures to prevent the unintentional movement of invasive species, practices early detection and rapid response to new invasive species to thwart their establishment, and learns and shares the latest treatment approaches to conduct integrated pest management of established invasive species that are likely to be ecosystem game changers and which are controllable.

Close up of a brown and white striped lionfish.
Lionfish Red lionfish, native to the South Pacific and Indian oceans, is a vicious predator of native reef fish and its spines are toxic to humans. © Daniel & Robbie Wisdom

Partnerships

TNC joins state and federal agencies and private groups in carefully considered on-the-ground strategies to minimize the ecosystem impacts of invasive species. Regional Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) have been established to share expertise and resources. CISMAs are voluntary partnerships within geographic regions striving to work more effectively and efficiently together. TNC is actively engaged in four of these CISMA partnerships. TNC was also a founding member of the Florida Invasive Species Partnership, a group of representatives from agencies and organizations, that advises and helps implement the work of the CISMAs.

Tiger Creek Preserve scrub land with palms, pines and bushes and a sunny sky.
Tiger Creek Preserve Tiger Creek Preserve sits on the edge of peninsular Florida's oldest and highest landmass, sheltering many threatened and endangered plants and animals. © Roberto Gonzalez

More on Invasive Species

Burmese Python

Florida Python Patrol Fighting Burmese Python

Python Patrol is fighting Florida’s Burmese python invasion, reducing the invasive snake’s threat to the Everglade’s endangered species.

Tallowtree

Alabama's Worst Invasives

Learn about Alabama's top ten worst invasive, non-native plant species and what you can do to stop their spread.