Animal Invaders
This series looks at animals that have spread beyond their native habitats and taken over new territory. Animal Invaders provides a global perspective on the topic by including invasive species that have been both imported to and exported from North America.
Africanized Honey Bee
Honeybees are known for their familiar buzzing and honey production. Learn how an experiment meant to increase honey production created aggressive Africanized honeybees that have taken over… More »
American Mink
American mink have beautiful, thick, glossy fur. At one time, many were exported to other countries where farmers raised them for their fur. Find out what happened to native species when fur… More »
Asian Carp
Asian carp have big appetites and can leap out of the water when startled. They were brought to the United States from their native Asian habitats to control algae growth on fish farms. Find… More »
Australian Spotted Jellyfish
Swarms of the dinner-plate-size invasive Australian Spotted Jellyfish have been reported from East Texas to Florida in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coastlines of Florida and… More »
Brown Treesnake
How the Brown Tree Snake made themselves at home, disrupted the island's ecosystem, and created problems for its people and native animals. More »
Bullfrog
Bullfrogs are big eaters, consuming almost anything that fits in their mouths. Meals include birds, turtles, snakes, and even other frogs. At one time, bullfrogs lived only in North America… More »
Cane Toad
Cane toads are known for their warty skin and poison glands. They were brought to Australia and other places to help control pests that were harming crops. Learn more about how the cane toad… More »
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borers have shiny green bodies and an appetite for ash trees. This native Asian insect hitchhiked to North America and has killed millions of ash trees. Learn more about the… More »
Fire Ant
Fire ants are tiny, but they pack a powerful sting. Some kinds of fire ants were accidentally brought to North America from South America in cargo ships. Look inside to learn how these… More »
Giant African Snail
How the Giant African Snail destroyed field crops and flower gardens and spread diseases to people thousands of miles from their native Africa. More »
Gray Squirrel
Gray squirrels are known for their bushy tails and hoarding habits. These North American natives were imported to parts of Europe and South Africa as pets, but quickly went from pets to… More »
Monitor Lizard
The Monitor Lizard is large; adults can grow up to 7 feet in length. A vicious predator that will eat anything it can fit into its mouth. Native to Africa, the Monitor Lizard has successfully… More »
Python
Less than a decade ago, there were only a few pythons in the everglades. Today more than 100,000 of them are slithering around south Florida, crushing what was already a delicate ecosystem.… More »
Sea Lamprey
the Sea Lamprey have invades the Great Lakes where they have killed off native species and harmed the fishing industry. Find out hoe they arrived, the problems they cause and other places… More »
Small Indian Mongoose
The Small Indian Mongoose was imported to the Hawaiian Islands to control the rat population. Now, it threatens to disrupt the ecosystem of the island. Read this book to learn how this… More »
Starling
Starlings have glossy feathers and are aggressive competitors for nesting sites. Native to Europe and Asia, these birds were introduced to North America, Australia, and South Africa. Find out… More »
Termite
Termites can invade homes and cause a lot of damage. Termites that invade new countries can damage more than just homes. The Formosan subterranean termite was accidentally brought to the… More »
Walking Catfish
The Walking Catfish have upset the balance of the ecosystems and hurt local economies. More »
Wild Boar
Centuries ago, explorers brought hogs to the Americas as a food source. Some of these boars made it into the wild, where their offspring have managed to survive ever since. Wild boars will… More »
Zebra Mussel
Zebra Mussels are known for their striped shells and clingy habits. These natives of Europe and Asia traveled to North America in by ship. Learn more about why the zebra mussel poses a threat… More »