National Invasive Species Awareness Week – What Can You Do?

by Rick O'Connor | Mar 4, 2022

During this week we have read about what an invasive species is, how they got here, which ones have been here awhile, which are new potential threats, and why we should even care about this.  All important things to know when you are trying to understand invasive species.  But what can you do about it?  Is there anything that can be done from your side?

Yes… there is.

The first step in helping to manage invasive species is to learn which plants and animals in your landscape are invasive.  Many of the animals are easy, but the plants not so much.  I have already heard from a few of you about Mimosa – like me, we had no idea it was on the list.  But we should know which plants are and are not.  How do you learn this?

Unfortunately, Six Rivers CISMA’s new website is not live yet.  It should be by April 1, 2022, and when it is there will be information for you there.  Another way is to check EDDMapS (www.EDDMapS.org).  You can search the distribution map at the tool bar, type in the name of the species you have a question about and see if there are records.  If it is, this does not mean it is invasive in Florida, just that it is invasive somewhere, but it is a start.  If it is a plant (and most have questions about plants more than animals) you can search the University of Florida IFAS Assessment (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/).  This database will give you the status of the plant in Florida.  However, you will need to know the scientific name of the plant.  You can find this by googling the common name and finding it that way.  Of course, you can always contact your county extension office.

Here is one for the SCUBA divers out there.  I met with a couple of experts a year ago or so to discuss a list of 20 potential nonnative fish threats to the Florida Keys.  We discussed which of these could become threats in the northern Gulf, could tolerate our climate.  It was decided that we should tell divers if they see any fish that looks out of place, never been here before sort of thing, get a photo and contact us at the extension office.  We will go from there.

Survey your yard

The second step is to conduct a survey of your yard or business.  You probably know your yard already, but most have crews handle the landscaping for their businesses.  You can conduct the search for plants but let your landscaping crew know your interest in any unusual animals they may see.  You can also participate in community surveys with the county extension office.  As COVID restrictions begin to lift, we will be conducting more of these in public areas in the coming months.  Check our website calendar.

Be aware of what you are buying and bringing home this spring during gardening time.  Not just the plant that you are buying, but who might be hitchhiking on it.  Many of the ornamental plants people purchase are grown in large nurseries in central and south Florida.  We believe this is how the Brown Anole, and now, the Cuban Treefrog are getting here.  Slugs, lizards, frogs, all sorts of creatures can hitchhike on your plants.  Just give it a good look over and if you think you have a potential invasive, call us.

Cuban Anole. Photo credit: Dr. Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida

Photo by: Dr. Steve Johnson

The third step is to report them.  As you saw in the numbers, and I did not post the Dirty Dozen numbers, but all of them are under reported.  Having the public report these to EDDMapS gives managers a better idea of the extent of the problem.  Note: You are not allowed to report an invasive species on private property without their permission, please get this first. 

How do you report to EDDMapS?

There are two options.

One, go to their website (www.EDDMapS.org).  You will see “report a sighting” on their tool bar.  Report here.  It will ask for a password, so you will need to set up an account.  It will ask for area covered; estimating is fine.  It will ask for Latitude and Longitude, most phones can give you this.  Note: input longitude as a negative number or it will post the location in the eastern hemisphere.    It will want a photograph so that it can be verified.  This is important.  Many are nervous reporting because they are not sure they have identified it correctly.  No worries.  All records sent in are verified before they are posted.  A good photograph will allow the verifiers to do this.  Send the record, if they believe it is incorrect, they will not post it.

The second option is to use the IveGotOne app.  This app handles a lot of the needs for EDDMaps.  You see the plant, aim the phone, take the picture, and tell it the area covered, send.  Everything else is taken care of.  REMEMBER, you must get permission to do this on private property.  You can get this app from the EDDMapS website or your favorite app store.

The fourth step is to remove it.  This is the hard part.

Hard in the sense that most can remove small weeds and vines and are happy to do so.  It is harder when there is a large infestation or if it is an animal – it is not easy to euthanize an animal, for anyone.  How do we handle those harder ones?

With plants, contact us at the extension office – or visit the Six Rivers CISMA website when it is live.  There has been a lot of research conducted on different methods of removal that will be effective and little impact on the environment.  Many do not want to use herbicides, and we get that, but in some cases that may be the only option.  So, which herbicides are the safest to use and in what concentrations?  Again, give us a call.  Interestingly, I recently heard from a local contractor who removes aquatic plants from ponds.  He said he could do the same for invasive species.  We hope to find a lot of such contractors who might be able to help with large problems that you cannot do yourself.  Stay tuned.

With animals it is even harder.  Even though there are humane ways to do this, most people cannot just put animals to sleep.  Most county animal control units do not deal with invasive species.  Instead, you would call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  They have a number you can call Monday – Friday during normal business hours – (888) 483-4681.  If it is after hours, or on the weekend, call (888) 404-FWCC (3922).  Either FWC, or a licensed contractor, will come to deal with it.  I will let you know they are probably not coming for the Brown Anoles so many have in their yards at the moment.  There are just too many of them.  Note: it is illegal to transport an invasive species in Florida.  If you have a problem please call, do not bring it in. 

If you feel you could euthanize an invasive animal first make sure on the identification.  Get a good photo and send to your county extension office.  If it is, your extension office can give you information on how to humanely euthanize the animal.

Note that there is nothing illegal about having invasive species in your yard.  You will not be cited for having such.  It is just many do want to remove them.

We hope you have learned a lot this week about invasive species.  If you have, email me at roc1@ufl.edu and let me know.  And if you decide to report or remove a species, I would like to know this as well.

Hope all is well with everyone.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) – The Dirty Dozen

by Rick O'Connor | Mar 3, 2022

The name lets you know that these are probably not good.  What we call the Dirty Dozen are those invasive species who are in the high part of the invasive species curve.  The section to the right that is red.  They are widespread and abundant.  They are here and not going anywhere.  We are not going to get rid of them.  Which brings us back to our first article, why bother then?

Here is analogy that many of you may relate to.  There is a native green vine with thorns that grows in the Florida panhandle known as green briar (Smilax).  It can be a horrible plant.  Vines growing everywhere, thorns tearing at your skin and cutting your clothes.  I have seen it growing next to my house literally overtake a large pine tree.  It grows over shrubbery, landscape lattice, just a real pain.  We do not like it.  I cannot get rid of it, it is here to stay, so – why don’t I just walk away and let it grow?

Smilax, green briar, is a nuisance native plant.

Well, we know what will happen.  It will overtake our landscape a create a ball of briars and thorns.  I ran into such a place while hiking on Pensacola Beach recently.  It was absolute hell trying to get through and I will always walk around such a mess again.  Yes… we will manage it in our yard.  We will not let it go.  And so goes the Dirty Dozen.  We should not ignore.

The Dirty Dozen are the top 12 problematic established invasive species within the Six Rivers CISMA selected by its members.  A lot of species could be on the list, but the members felt they were having the toughest time with these twelve.  Let’s meet them… (these are in no particular order).

1. Callery (Bradford) Pear. Yes… this was listed as an EDRR yesterday.  I am not sure where this fits.  It is either a large EDRR issue, or a small Dirty Dozen (D-12) problem.  There are 174 records of this plant in the Florida panhandle and most records come from the Blackwater Forest area.  I think this is because they have an aggressive invasive species management program and do an excellent job reporting.  It is probably quite common everywhere.
2. Chinese Privet. Interestingly, in my mind, this is a north Florida problem.  During my travels in south Florida, I never see it, but along I-10 you see it everywhere.  It is sort of our Brazilian pepper (a major south Florida problem).  And it is everywhere.  There are very few places, urban or natural areas, where I have not seen it.  Many may not even know what it is.
3. Chinese Tallow. This is the famous popcorn tree and yes, its everywhere.  One thing I have noticed about this plant is that it seems to move into disturbed areas.  Along roadsides and trails, housing developments and agricultural lands.  I have seen one grove take over a retention pond, this plant does not seem to have a problem with wetland habitats.  This is also the one that beekeepers say make great honey.  It is toxic to livestock and wildlife.
4. Cogongrass. This invasive plant appears to have entered the U.S. on pallets entering the Port of Mobile.  It quickly spread from there across south Alabama, Mississippi, and covers much of Florida.  It is easily transported by mowing vehicles that try and mow it down.  Many land managers have now learned this and have adopted better practices.  It has leaves with serrated edges and silica.  Livestock and wildlife do not eat it.  It is considered a federal noxious weed and one of the worst invasive species we deal with by many land managers and biologists.
5. Feral Hogs. Wild pigs, or feral hogs, are a problem.  They destroy large tracks of habitats digging for food.  They are very resilient to management efforts and are a real problem for private and public landowners.
6. Japanese Climbing Fern. This is the north Florida cousin to south Florida’s Old World Climbing Fern. Both are bad news completely overtaking the landscape as green briar does.  Managing it is difficult and it spreads easily by spores.  Sometimes managing it can enhance its dispersal.
7. Japanese Honeysuckle. My experience with this plant is that it is not as abundant as Japanese Climbing Fern, but where it is found it is aggressive and most be managed.
8. Kudzu. Enough said… This could be the poster child (and often is) for invasive species problems.  It is a much larger problem in Alabama and Georgia, but north Florida certainly has its problems with it.  Like so many of these D-12, it is difficult to manage.
9. Mimosa. I grew up with this tree in our landscape and had no idea it was (a) nonnative and (b) an invasive plant.  It falls into that category of invasive species that is pretty and people enjoy having it in their landscape.  The problem associated with it is that it out competes native species.  There is the threat of decrease biodiversity and so, it is listed as invasive.  For those trying to manage it in our area, they consider it one of the D-12.
10. Red Fire Ant. No one likes this creature.  Well, maybe Dr. E.O. Wilson did, but everyone else does not like this animal.  We are all too familiar with how aggressive this animal can be and how painful their bites are.  They can be found in a variety of landscapes and spread quickly.  Their impacts are huge and, as many of you probably know, their management difficult.
11. Red Lionfish. This is one that most know about now.  This has been reported as being one of the worst invasions of all invasive species ever.  Producing an average of 30,000 fertilized eggs/female/week and the fact that they can live to depths of 1000 feet makes management very difficult.  However, there has been some success in depths less than 200 feet, and, like all D-12 species, you just have to keep at it.  Don’t let the “green briar” overtake.
12.   Those who know this grass know how hard it is to manage and how quickly it spreads.  The team with Gulf Islands National Seashore has been battling it for awhile now.  It likes to grow along the waters edge and can be submerged for a short period of time.  Those who do not know it, may have it along their waterfront.

Again, these are invasive species we let get to point where management is almost a full-time job and the cost of doing so it quite high.  This is why it is so important to manage the EDRR species and avoid this problem.  It begins with education of the issue, which we hope you are getting.

Tomorrow is the last day of NISAW 2022, and we will finish with a discussion on what you can do to help manage this problem.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) – EDRR Species

by Rick O'Connor | Mar 2, 2022

Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR)

To understand better what this is you can look at the graphic below of the “invasive species curve”.

You will notice that across the x-axis is time, increasing from left to right.  On the y-axis you have area covered on the left and control costs on the right.  You will notice the longer you allow an invasive species to go unchecked in your community, the more it will spread, the more it will cost to manage, and you will reach a point where eradication is no longer an option.  As a matter of fact, if you are serious about eradication, you will need to manage this species in the early stages of the invasion.

We have mentioned in previous articles the cost of managing invasive species.  Annually, the U.S. spends about $120 billion doing this.  If you want to reduce these costs, and avoid the problems these species bring with them, you need to identify and remove them from the landscape early in the invasion.

Florida CISMAs

Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) species are those that are not present in your community but are in nearby ones or are in your community but in very low numbers.  You will see step 1 in the curve is to prevent the species from reaching you.  The state of Florida is divided into 15 Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) where professionals within manage and educate the public about invasive species.  One method of detecting a potential EDRR species is to see what nearby CISMAs are dealing with.  You can find records of these species by searching EDDMapS, a national invasive species database (www.EDDMapS.org).  Often the records are under reported and the actual number within/near your CISMA is higher.  At that point you can educate your community about them and possibly prevent them from entering your CISMA.  Likewise, if they are already within your CISMA in low numbers, it would be considered an EDRR species and action should be taken now.

Here in the western panhandle, we belong to the Six Rivers CISMA, which includes three counties in Alabama.  During the shutdown of the pandemic, we were able to update our EDRR list and are currently developing fact sheets for each.  Here is our EDRR list – it is in no particular order.

1. Eurasian milfoil. This is an aquatic weed that was introduced via the aquarium trade.  There are currently 12 records within Six Rivers and 12 in the eastern panhandle for a total of 24 records.  There is quite a lot of this plant in the Mobile Delta area.
2. Beach vitex. This is a beach/dune vine that eventually becomes a shrub.  There are currently 83 records within the CISMA and five in the eastern panhandle for a total of 88 records.  Almost all of the records are from the Pensacola Beach area.
3. Argentine Black and White Tegu. This is a 3–4-foot lizard from South America that has caused a lot of problems in central and south Florida.  There are seven records within Six Rivers and seven more from the eastern panhandle for a total of 14 records.  There is no evidence of breeding populations here.  It is believed these are escaped pets.  One escape was from a breeder in the western panhandle, but all animals were captured but we keep an eye out.
4. Callery (Braford) Pear. This is an ornamental tree that many have purchased and planted.  There are 169 records within Six Rivers and another five in the eastern panhandle for a total of 174 records.  This is most likely from better reporting in the Six Rivers, much of it coming from the Blackwater Forest area, where it is under management.
5. Cane Toad. This is a large toad that produces a strong toxin that has killed dogs.  It is a much larger problem in central and south Florida but there is one record within Six Rivers and another in the eastern panhandle for a total of two.  Though there was a question on identification of the one within Six Rivers, it was eventually verified.  Like the tegu, there is no evidence of breeding populations here, but we keep watch and remove if found.
6. Channeled Apple Snail. This species is famous for the problems it has caused with the snail kites in central and south Florida.  There are no records of it in Six Rivers and only two in the eastern panhandle, but it is feared that this species may be more common than the records suggest.
7. Coral ardisia. This is a beautiful plant that produces beautiful red berries but is a problem.  It takes over patches in hardwood habitats and has invaded natural areas.  There are 14 records within Six Rivers and 407 in the eastern panhandle for a total of 421 records.  This plant may have originally escaped cultivation in the eastern panhandle hence the high numbers there.
8. Cuban Treefrog. This is a large treefrog that consumes all others, as well as other forms of wildlife.  There are 13 records within Six Rivers and 19 in the eastern panhandle for a total of 32 records.  There has been increasing number of reports from the Six Rivers CISMA suggesting that this is a species that needs immediate attention.
9. Giant Salvinia. This is floating plant that resembles duckweed, but the leaves are larger.  There are 10 records within Six Rivers and two more in the eastern panhandle.  These are the only known records of this plant in the entire state.  Those within Six Rivers are in Bayou Chico.  There is an effort by FWC to eradicate this plant, but public help is needed.
10. Green Mussel. This is a beautiful emerald, green mussel that grows in clumps on pilings and rocks in marine waters.  There is only one record within Six Rivers and no records from the eastern panhandle.  The lone specimen was found in Pensacola but was not verified.  It is a problem in peninsula Florida so keeping an eye out for it is smart.
11. Greenhouse Treefrog. This is a very small treefrog that has been found in local gardens.  There are five records from Six Rivers and two others from the eastern panhandle for a total of seven records, but it is believed to be more common than this.
12. Guinea Grass. There are 18 records of this plant within Six Rivers and five additional from the eastern panhandle for a total of 23 records.
13. Hydrilla. This is another aquatic grass brought in for the aquarium trade.  There are eight records within Six Rivers and 28 from the eastern panhandle for a total of 36 records.  This is a big problem in the peninsula part of the state, and we spend a lot of money controlling it.
14. Natal Grass. This is a wiry grass that grows in more open fields and has a pretty tuft of small red flowers at the top giving the landscape an interesting reddish look – but it is invasive and needs to be controlled.  There are 31 records from Six Rivers and 21 more from the eastern panhandle for a total of 52 records.
15. Skunk Vine. There is only one record within Six Rivers, but this is probably under reported.  There are an additional 16 records from the eastern panhandle for a total of 17 records.
16. The Snail. It is called “the snail” because no common name has been given.  The scientific name is Bulimulus sporadicus and it appears to have been introduced in the Jacksonville area.  From there the snail seems to have followed the railroad lines, possibly from cargo, and has begun to spread.  There are no official records from EDDMapS from the Florida panhandle, but it has been found by many gardeners.  More needs to be learned about this potential threat and more records are needed.
17. Swamp Morning Glory. This is an aggressive growing vine that has been problematic for property owners who have it.  Currently, there are only two records from Six Rivers and no records from the eastern panhandle, but this is probably another under reported species.
18. Water Hyacinth. This is a well-known floating plant with beautiful purple flowers.  But it will overtake waterways quickly changing the entire ecosystem and potential hampering economic opportunities within those waterways.  There are 21 records within Six Rivers and 256 in the eastern panhandle for a total of 277 records.

These are the EDRR species for our area.  As mentioned, they are under reported and help is needed to improve this.  Help is also needed in preventing the spread of them.  Cleaning equipment, like tractors, ATVS, and boats before moving is a good start.  Being mindful of what you purchase at the store, and what may be “hitchhiking” on it is another good practice to help.  And, if you do find on your property, reporting and removing it will also help.

If you have questions about identification and safe methods of removal, contact your county extension office.  Tomorrow we will look at the “Dirty Dozen” invasive species for the Florida panhandle.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) – How Did They Get Here?

by Rick O'Connor | Mar 1, 2022

Based on the definition we use for an invasive species, they got here because of us.  It may have been unintentional, but it was still humans who assisted their arrival.

Each species has a biogeographic range.

All species have a biogeographic range.  There is some point of origin, where they first appeared, and then a dispersal process as their populations moves across the landscape.  Dispersal is driven by competition, usually with your own species, but can be with others as well.  If there is no longer food or space for the number in the population, they move to new territory – dispersal.  This dispersal continues until they encounter some sort of barrier, something that stops dispersal.  Barriers can be physical, like a river or mountain range.  They can be biological, like the lack of their needed food or the presence of a new predator that you have no defense against.  They can be climatic; it is now too cold or too hot.  Whatever it is, it stops dispersal, and the species now has its geographic range.

Mountains and rivers can be barriers to species dispersal.

Kangaroos and wallabies are isolated on an island we call Australia.  Australia is very large, and the physical features and climate vary so, kangaroos are not found over the entire continent.  Many of the plant and animal species that originated in Asia would have a difficult time reaching North America.  Many birds have few physical barriers because they can fly over most of them.  But their dispersal can still be impeded by biological or climatic barriers.  Species that have very large ranges are called cosmopolitan, like seagulls.  Species with small ranges are referred to as endemic species, like the marine iguana of the Galapagos.

Islands can be difficult for many species to reach.

For invasive species then, we are talking about those that would have a very difficult, if not impossible time, reaching Florida – but did so because we brought them here, we got them past their natural barriers.

In many cases this is intentional.  In the early history of Key West, it was the home of many sea captains who often brought exotic plants from around the world to plant in their yards.  Banyan trees for example, are not native to Florida, but are found in Key West.  Orange trees were introduced by us, as were thousands of ornamental plants for landscaping, and sugar cane for agriculture.  Most of these would not have found their way to our shores without us.

Nurseries provide native and nonnative plants.

And there were many animals that reach Florida because we intentionally brought them.  Horses, pigs, cattle to name a few.  There are of course exotic pets like boas, monitor lizards, and tropical fish.  There are reports of some coyotes being introduced for the purpose of hunting, though we know that coyotes dispersed into Florida naturally as well.

And then there are those that reached us due to hitchhiking.  We load cargo on ships, trucks, and planes from all over the world and deliver them to new destinations like Florida.  As a matter of fact, Florida and Hawaii are two states with large invasive problems because of the amount of international traffic (planes and ships) and a subtropical climate that is suitable to many of them.

Nonnative species can be transported on ships and in their ballast.

Most of the Polynesian islands are very isolated and difficult for species to reach.  During World War II the brown tree snake was accidentally dispersed by the U.S. Navy as they battled their way across the islands trying to reach Japan.  On the island of Guam there are reported 20,000 snakes for each human on the island and no predators to control them.  Hawaii is so concerned about this issue that all aircraft coming from that part of the world are isolated on a runway at the airport until a thorough check can be conducted, often using dogs.  When I traveled there years ago, we had to complete a form asking if we were bringing any plants?  Was their soil with the plants?  If you had dogs, they had to be quarantined because there were no ticks on the island.  And, like Guam, there are no native snakes on the island as well.  I heard one story where a local on the Oahu decided to raise piranha, I suppose as a deterrent.  The fish were confiscated, and the project destroyed.

Firewood is now something biologist are concerned about.  There has been an issue in many forest with insects that either eat the trees directly or make them weak and susceptible to diseases.  Many campers like to gather firewood for camp and will take logs with them to their next camp in the next state, not knowing they are spreading the problem.

Campers can move species by carrying firewood with them to each new site.

Boating has been known to spread invasive plants.  Launching and recovering your boat, the trailer may grab some plant, you move to the next lake an – wah-lah.  This has become such a big issue out west that many lakes have check in stations where officers check your boat and trailer as you arrive AND when you leave – a point made in the last article, we are spending a lot of money on battling invasive species.

The Great Lakes area has a large problem with invasive species that are transported more by shipping.  There are several major ports in this region.  Ships carrying cargo have weight to make them stable when in rough seas.  However, when they empty that cargo at port, they become light and the trip back could be a bit precarious.  To offset the weight loss, they will add ballast.  In the colonial period, this would have been stones from the surrounding area.  The ships would unload the cargo, load the ballast, sail to their next destination, unload the blast (you have now moved this and whatever it was carrying), and get a new load of cargo – and so, it goes.  Today ships use water as ballast.  As a ship enters a port in the Great Lakes, they may discharge their ballast tanks of water they took on in another part of the world.  Sometimes releasing things like zebra mussels.

Florida of course is no different than any of these other stories.  International travel lands at our airports and cruise ship ports everyday bringing who knows what.  Campers come from around the country harboring a variety of unknown hitchhikers.  And then there are the intentional exotic plants and animals shipped in for the pet and landscaping industries.

Keep in mind that not all nonnative species are invasive.  To labeled them so they would need to be causing a problem.  Red fire ants entered the U.S. accidentally through the port of Mobile, Alabama.  They have been a real problem wherever they have been found, they have been labeled invasive.  But there are plenty of nonnative plants and animals that have not been problematic.  Banyan trees may not be causing any real problem and thus would not be labeled invasive.  You can say the same for many other nonnative plants.

The problem we have is that some have “escaped” – coral ardisia, Brazilian pepper, Burmese pythons, have been found to be a problem and knowing which will be problems and which will not is tough.  You really won’t know until they have spread, and the issue arises.

The Burmese python.
Photo: University of Florida

For us Miami is “ground zero” for such problems.  It is a tropical international hub.  There are numerous invasive species that entered our state here and have spread across central and south Florida.  North Florida has fewer due to our climate, but we are finding (a) many species can tolerate our climate and are doing well – cogongrass, Chinese tallow, Chinese privet – and (b) our climate is warming allowing species that were once not a threat, to become one.

I’ll finish on a story from college.  I was attending the University of Southern Mississippi.  My roommate was from Afton, Wyoming.  Unknown to him, he carried cockroaches’ home in his luggage one semester.  This is an animal not found in the Rockies, it now lived in his house.  It is very easy for us to carry hitchhikers across wildlife barriers.  We will discuss how to prevent this in a later article, but up next will be an article discussing some of the new species that may threaten the Florida panhandle.