Invasive species are non-native or exotic species that do not naturally occur in an area and cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. These invasive species have become the number one threat to biodiversity on protected lands. However, invasive species do not know boundaries and as a result public and private lands are affected as well as natural and man-made water bodies and associated watersheds. March 2nd -March 8th is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Make a point to learn more about our local invasive species.
Continue the treatment and prevention of invasive exotic plant and animal issues in your local area throughout the year. Simple acts such as cleaning your boat, checking for plant hitchhikers, not releasing your pets, following best management treatments for exotics can all help in this fight. Public and private landowners and land managers can join their local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) groups to manage exotic invasive species across boundaries. Find your local group and see what CISMA is all about. http://www.floridainvasives.org/cismas.html. To Think Locally, Act Neighborly and join in the efforts against invasive exotic plants and animals find your local CISMA. Northwest Florida and neighboring Alabama counties are part of the Six Rivers CISMA. For more information on invasive species or natural resource management, contact your local friendly county IFAS Extension agent. To find a listing of natural resource agents for each county in the panhandle, please visit
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletters/natural-resources-agents/.
Press Release National Invasive Species Awareness Week
Chinese Tallow Tree aka Popcorn Tree March 2, 2013
Photo Chinese Tallow citation Cheryl McCormick University of Florida,Bugwood.org
Torpedograss March 2, 2013
Photo Torpedograss citation John D Byrd Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org
Photo Torpedograss 2 citation Graves Lovell, AL Dept of Conservation & Natural Resources, Bugwood.org
Tropical Soda Apple March 3, 2013
Photo Tropical Soda Apple citation Charles T Bryson USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Photo Tropical Soda Apple 2 citation J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org
Lionfish March 3, 2013
Photo Lionfish citation NOAA Archives, Bugwood.org
Photo Lionfish 2 citation U.S. Geological Survey Archive, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org
Photo Lionfish 3 citation Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Cogongrass March 4, 2013
Photo Cogongrass citation Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Photo Cogongrass 2 citation Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org
Hydrilla March 4, 2013
Photo Hydrilla citation Raghavan Charudattan, University of Florida, Bugwood.org
Photo Hydrilla 2 citation Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org
Photo Hydrilla 3 citation Vic Ramey, University of Florida
Wild Hogs March 5, 2013
Photo Wild Hogs citation Billy Higginbotham, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Bugwood.org
Water Hyacinth March 5, 2013
Photo Water Hyacinth citation Vic Ramey University of Florida
Chinese Privet March 6, 2013
Photo Chinese Privet citation Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org
Coral Ardisia March 6, 2013
Photo Coral Ardisia citation Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org
Photo Coral Ardisia 2 citation Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org
Alligator Weed March 6, 2013
Photo Alligatorweed citation James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Photo Alligatorweed 2 citation Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org
Chinaberry March 7, 2013
Photo Chinaberry citation Ann Murray University of Florida
Photo Chinaberry 2 citation James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Water Lettuce March 7, 2013
Photo Waterlettuce citation USDA Ag Research Service Archive, USDA Ag Research Svc, Bugwood.org
Photo Waterlettuce 2 citation USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Red Imported Fire Ant March 8, 2013
Photo Red Imported Fireant citation USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Photo Red Imported Fireant 2 citation USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Photo Red Imported Fireant 3 citation Randy Westbrooks, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org
Kudzu March 8, 2013
Photo Kudzu
Photo Kudzu 2
Giant Tiger Prawn March 8, 2013
Photo Tiger Shrimp citation Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Photo Tiger Shrimp 2 citation Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
MimosaTree March 9, 2013
Photo Mimosa Tree citation John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Photo Mimosa Tree 2 citation James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
EurasianWaterMilfoil March 9, 2013
Photo Eurasian Water Milfoil citation Alison Fox, University of Florida, Bugwood.org
Japanese Climbing Fern March 9, 2013
Photo Japanese Climbing Fern
Photo Climbing Fern 2
PalmerAmaranth March 10, 2013
Photo Palmer Amaranth citation Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Nutria March 10, 2013
Photo Nutria citation John and Karen Hollingsworth, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org
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