5 Invasive Species That Are Quietly Taking Over America's Ecosystems
- Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades have exploded in population, with estimates of up to 300,000 snakes now consuming native mammals like deer and raccoons at an alarming rate.
- The spotted lanternfly has spread to 14 U.S. states since 2014, causing millions in agricultural damage by destroying vineyards, fruit trees, and maple forests.
- Zebra mussels have infested over 600 lakes and rivers in the Midwest, clogging water pipes and costing over $1 billion in economic damage annually.
- Asian giant hornets, nicknamed "murder hornets," have established nests in the Pacific Northwest, threatening honeybee populations critical to crop pollination.
- The emerald ash borer has killed over 100 million ash trees across 35 states, fundamentally altering forest composition and costing billions in tree removal and replacement.