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Invasive Plants Information3/26/2021
Eugene Schieffelin was such a fan of William Shakespeare that he decided to introduce a bird mentioned in his play Henry IV into the U.S. In 1890 and 1891, Schieffelin unleashed approximately 100 imported Europeans starlings into New York Citys Central Park. Bad idea. Within 50 years, they had spread across the continent.Author: Becky Little Sedat PhotographyGetty Images The history of invasive species is usually one of unforeseen consequences.
When an animal, fish, insect or plant is taken out of its original ecosystem and introduced to a new onewhether by accident or on purposeits less likely to have any natural predators. Without anything to keep their population in check, some invasive speciesespecially the prolific breedersoften flourish. ![]() When European colonizers sailed to the Americas, they disrupted existing animal populations while also introducing new ones. Invading creatures have long affected the United States, as people imported new animals for study, sport, fur or even the love of Shakespeare. Yes, really.) Here are seven invasive species that still pose a threat to the U.S. READ MORE: How Burmese Pythons Took Over the Florida Everglades 1. FERAL SWINE ( Sus scrofa ) Kristian BellGetty Images Other names: Wild or feral boars, hogs or pigs; Eurasian or Russian wild boars Originate from: Parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa Reason in U.S.: European settlers brought them for food beginning in the 1500s; others brought them for sport hunting in the 1900s Destructive superpowers: Devour crops and native vegetation Newsworthy moment: Twitters 2019 viral meme of 30 to 50 feral hogs The very real problem of invasive feral swine went viral in August 2019 when Twitter user WillieMcNabb of Arkansas tweeted: How do I kill the 30-50 feral hogs that run into my yard within 3-5 mins while my small kids play The phrase 30 to 50 feral hogs quickly became a meme; and while its unlikely that many wild hogs actually run into McNabbs yard at once, the discussion did highlight the growing issue of wild hogs in the U.S. Feral swine are the same species as the pigs found on farms, and are descended from farm escapees andor Eurasian or Russian wild boars brought to the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates there are at least 6 million feral swine spread throughout some 35 states. They have been a particularly virulent problem throughout the south, especially in Texas, where their incessant rooting and voracious eating destroy crops, erode soil and uproot tree seedlings, causing deforestation. They also carry disease like pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. The U.S.D.A. estimates, conservatively, that invasive swine cause upward of 1.5 billion in damage annually to all manner of agriculture, including rice, corn and grains. READ MORE: Bugs of War: How Insects Have Been Weaponized Throughout History 2. BURMESE PYTHONS ( Python bivittatus ) Rhona WiseAFPGetty Images Originate from: Southeast Asia Reason in U.S.: Exotic pet trade Destructive superpowers: Annihilating native small mammal populations Newsworthy moments: Killed a two-year-old child; swallowed three deer In 1979, staff members at Everglades National Park discovered Floridas first recorded python, which was likely a Burmese python. By 2000, Florida was receiving reports of established populations of Burmese pythons in the state. These snakes, which can grow up to 20 feet long or more, were brought to Florida as part of the exotic pet trade. But many owners released the huge creatures, which reproduce rapidly; females are known to produce 50-100 eggs per year. With no predators on this continent, these slithery gluttons have since become a danger to native species, devouring more than 90 percent of small and medium-sized mammals in the Everglades. Some are more ambitious: One killed and swallowed three deer a doe and two fawnsover a three-month period. While not known to be a threat to humans, there have been isolated incidents. In 2009, a pet Burmese python broke out of its terrarium and strangled a two-year-old girl to death. Historians believe ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, and that these pets spread to Europe during the Roman Empire. When Europeans colonized North America, they brought cats with them as pets. Since then, these animals have flourished while harming native species. In 2013, a paper in Nature Communications estimated free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.34.0 billion birds and 6.3-22.3 billion mammals annually. And the American Bird Conservancy estimates that cats have contributed to the extinction of more than 60 species of birds, mammals and reptiles. Author and bird lover Jonathan Franzen, for one, has drawn criticism for his statements on this issue. Eugene Schieffelin was such a fan of William Shakespeare that he decided to introduce a bird mentioned in his play Henry IV into the U.S. In 1890 and 1891, Schieffelin unleashed approximately 100 imported Europeans starlings into New York Citys Central Park. Bad idea. Within 50 years, they had spread across the continent.
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