Bahia Honda, a subtropical gem in the Florida Keys, harbors numerous rare plants and animals. Photo © Susan Stein.

Where’s the Native Wildlife?

Miami blue butterfly on Bahia Honda in 2003. This species was last seen on the island in January 2010. Photo: J. Glassberg.

The Miami blue once extended from the Dry Tortugas in the south up along the Florida coasts to about St. Petersburg and Daytona. Its decline resulted from a variety of factors, most notably loss of habitat. On Bahia Honda, however, one of the most significant factors in its recent demise has been a flourishing population of non-native iguanas. These introduced reptiles, which can grow to a yard long, have developed a taste for the young shoots of the gray nickerbean (Caesalpinia bonduc), the host plant for the Miami blue’s eggs and larvae. These ill-tempered and voracious lizards appear to have literally eaten the Miami blues into oblivion on this island.

Iguana basking in gray nickerbean, the host plant for the endangered Miami blue butterfly. Photo © Susan Stein.

And Everglades National Park, one of the nation’s crown jewels, is the epicenter of an invasion of Burmese python, a non-native constrictor snake that research now documents has almost completely wiped out this sensitive ecosystems rabbits, raccoons, deer, and other small mammals. Although the endangered Florida panther may be too large or cautious to be caught and killed directly by these constrictor snakes, by consuming much of the panther’s food source the snake will almost certainly lead to further declines for this endangered large cat.

Stemming the Invasive Tide

Burmese python have nearly wiped out small mammals in portions of Everglades National Park. Photo: by Bob DeGross, National Park Service.

Trying to control these pests once they have established themselves is difficult, costly, and often futile. A far better approach, ecologically and economically, is to keep them out in the first place. One obvious place to start is to better regulate the import of species known to pose a risk to U.S. ecosystems. Last year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under pressure from NWF and its partners, made a good start by banning the import of four species of large constrictor snakes that were deemed to present just such a risk.

Unfortunately, bowing to political pressure from a small but vocal lobby of reptile breeders, an additional five constrictor snakes that Fish and Wildlife considers to present an invasion risk, such as the reticulated python and green anaconda, were excluded from that import ban. National Wildlife Federation views the listing of these additional constrictors as “injurious species” under federal law to be a top priority in 2013.

The current system for assessing and limiting imports of invasive and potentially invasive species—designed before the days of lightening fast transcontinental shipping and dramatic expansion of the exotic pet trade—is too slow and unwieldy and badly in need to reform. Fortunately, with NWF support, bills introduced in the last Congress propose common sense reforms that would create a new screening system for evaluating the risk of invasion that species pose, and give the Fish and Wildlife Service greater flexibility and authority to make science-based decisions to prohibit or restrict trade in certain live animals. With the start of a new Congress, reintroduction and passage of bills such as Representative Slaughter’s (D-N.Y.) Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act is an imperative to better protect our nation from the onslaught of new harmful and costly invasions.

Packing up our campsite back on Bahia Honda in preparation for the long drive home is always bitter sweet. There’s next year’s visit to look forward to, sustained by memories of the snappers we caught this time, and paddles through the mangroves and over the clear waters. But the demise of the Miami blue butterfly on the island—one small but important strand of the key’s biological web—is emblematic of what we already have lost in this “American Paradise.”

How You Can Help

Donate today and help National Wildlife Federation continue to work for wildlife, including Miami blue butterflies and Florida panthers at risk from invasive species.

While some may say that Pharaoh brought his troubles on himself, we actually did introduce some of these pests ourselves, albeit with the best of intentions, only to suffer the havoc they now wreak.  Fortunately, in several cases there are also actions we can take to eliminate them before things get out of hand.

The vibration of boats' motors spurs asian carp to jump out of the water. (credit: USFWS)

Ten of Our Very Own Plagues:

1. Asian Carp

   Fast-growing, aggressive fish that are outcompeting native species for food and habitat in much of the Midwest, where they have no natural predators. They are on the verge of invading the Great Lakes, which would have devastating consequences for fish populations, spawning habitats, anglers, boaters and the biggest freshwater ecosystem in the world. Aside from making them into gefilte fish, here’s how you can help.

2. Cane Toads

   Originally introduced to fight crop pests, at which they were unsuccessful, when provoked cane toads secrete a toxin that is dangerous to pets and native wildlife, including their predators. With each female capable of producing 30,000 eggs in one sitting, they breed like warty, poisonous rabbits. It’s like that time Bart lost his frog in Australia.

3. Starlings

   Famously introduced in 1890 as part of the romantic notion to bring all birds mentioned by the Bard to New York City, starlings spread and thrived. Now, despite their beautifully mesmerizing murmurations, starlings are causing $800 million in agricultural damage per year and millions more in damage to the airline industry.

4. Kudzu

   

   The Vine that Ate this House (Credit: Natalie Maynor)

   Now known as the “Vine that Ate the South,” it was originally cultivated to feed livestock and prevent soil erosion. But it grows too well, taking over houses, choking out sunlight, and destroying other forest species. Kudzu, along with several other invasives like Garlic Mustard and Asian carp, is edible. Do your part, click for recipes.

5. Giant reed

   Currently used as a bioenergy crop in Florida and Oregon and being considered for use in North Carolina, despite its listing as a noxious weed in a number of states. It also invades important riparian ecosystems and displaces native species across the southern half of the country. In California, giant reed caused extensive damage to ecosystems and human infrastructure in many coastal and inland watersheds. More than $70 million has been spent over the past 15 years to control this invasive weed. Check out NWF’s new report on avoiding the use of invasives for bioenergy sources.

6. Zebra mussels

   

   Zebra mussels growing on zebra mussels (Credit: USFWS)

   By devastating the food chain, reducing fish populations, chocking water pipes and infrastructure and encrusting fishing equipment, boats and docks, these mussels have revealed the danger of biologically unsafe shipping practices. Learn more about NWF’s work to stop untreated ballast water from pouring non-native aquatic species into the Great Lakes.

7. Stinkbugs

   They’re stinky. They’re taking over. Enough said.

8. Emerald Ash Borer

   Since 2002 this pest has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the country. After devastating the tree-lined streets of Detroit, they are now munching their way across 15 states, eliminating habitat and creating fire hazards that imperil wildlife, humans and property.

9. Burmese python

   

   Burmese Python, (credit: South Florida Water Management District)

   
   Snakes on the Plain! Everglades National Park is infested with nearly 100,000 of these gargantuan snakes, many descended from abandoned pets, and they’re making their way up the coast, as far north as Virginia. These pythons were recently listed as “injurious” by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which means FWS can prohibit their importation to the US and their use in interstate commerce. Given they are capable of eating goats, crocodiles, pets and livestock, and the threat they pose to birds, I’d say “injurious” is putting it lightly.

10. Climate Change

    Ok, so it’s not a plant but it’s definitely plaguing us with increased extreme weather events, milder winters, drought, hail the size of snowballs, record-breaking floods, tornadoes in unanticipated regions and much more.  Unfortunately, it’s also giving many of these species a leg (or a leaf) up towards making themselves right at home in America. According to Harvard researchers, climate change is providing welcome conditions for invasive plants to dominate the landscape, which will only add to the burden facing farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and all Americans.  You can help by taking action to fight carbon pollution from power plants.

Want to learn more about how to set Americans free from these invasive plagues? Check out NWF’s work to stop invasive species and how you can help.

What invasive species do you see in your area? How are they impacting your local environment? Let us know, down below.

Miami Blue Butterfly, Photo credit: Jeffrey Glassberg, Ph.D

Find out how real solutions using good science can be used to stop to invasive species that are killing native wildlife, especially endangered species. In time, beauty fades, but the Miami blue butterfly doesn’t have to.

If cats have nine lives, an endangered cougar subspecies may be down to its last one. The Florida panther has been a whisker away from extinction for decades, struggling to survive amidst habitat loss, pollution, disease and uncontrolled hunting.  Unfortunately, massive, hungry snakes from overseas are bringing more darkness to the future of this Sunshine State mascot.

Giant Burmese pythons are gorging, hissing and crushing their way through the Florida Everglades. These invasive snakes are gobbling up mammals left and right that serve as the food for panthers.  A new study blames a more than 90 percent drop in wildlife sightings of raccoons, white-tailed deer and bobcats in the Everglades on Burmese pythons. These lethal reptiles have no natural predators in the region, like living in wetlands and can live a year without food. They can also live for up to 25 years, grow over 20 feet long and weight up to 200 pounds.

Irresponsible owners who can’t handle giant predatory pets like Burmese pythons dump them in the wild where the snakes terrorize native wildlife and people. Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibited the importation and interstate transportation and sale of the Burmese python and three other non-native constrictor snakes. However, the agency dropped five other dangerous constrictors from this list. A full restriction of invasive constrictor snakes would save taxpayers money and help endangered species in the Everglades.

There are fewer than 200 Florida panthers left in the wild, and invasive species like the Burmese python are only making the problem worse. Take a moment to take action and keep this American icon from disappearing forever. Click here to see the work the National Wildlife Federation and the Florida Wildlife Federation  are doing to save the Florida panther.