Floodwaters from Hurricanes Helene and Milton may have accelerated the spread of invasive wildlife and plant species into new areas of Florida and Georgia, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed Tuesday in a news release.
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“Invasive species are non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic damage, environmental harm, or a risk to human health or cultural practices,” the news release stated. “Invasive species can decrease agricultural production, compete with native plants and wildlife, impair critical water infrastructure, transmit disease to wildlife and humans, threaten commercial and native fisheries, and cost governments and industries billions of dollars.”
According to a map created by the USGS, 222 possible non-native species had the potential to spread due to storm-related flooding from Hurricane Helene, of which 90 species are considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters.
Ian Pfingsten, a botanist with USGS and one of the scientists who created the maps, said the preliminary map for Milton shows that 114 possible non-native species had the potential to spread during that hurricane event, of which 56 species are considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters.
“Once a species is introduced by spreading to a new location with suitable conditions, there is a possibility of that species establishing a population in its new environment, especially for highly invasive species that are documented to rapidly grow and reproduce without the constraints from the environment where the species originated,” the news release stated.
Pfingsten said there is a lot of overlapping when it comes to species that may have spread since Florida was struck by the two hurricanes just weeks apart.
He said some of the invasive species that may have spread include the well-known Burmese python and the lesser known giant applesnail and Asian swamp eel.
“The giant applesnail is an agricultural pest while the swamp eel impacts populations of native species where it has established,” the news release stated. “Both species can pose a risk to human health as they are known to carry parasites.”
Other invasive species that may have spread include the flathead and blue catfish, the Cuban treefrog and alligatorweed, which can clog waterways.
Click here to view the maps and for more information from the USGS.