There are a number of invasive wildlife species in Arkansas. According to the US Department of Agriculture, an invasive species is a living organism (plant, animal, or other) that lives in an area where they do not naturally exist, and whose introduction likely causes environmental harm, economic harm, or can even cause human harm.
Invasive species can make their way to a new ecosystem in a number of ways. Invasive mice and rats traveled to the Americas on cargo boats. People bring some animals to new areas for sports like hunting. Farmers introduce others as livestock and later release them. In some cases, people introduce invasive species to control other invasive species, but this often backfires. Below are a few invasive wildlife species found in the Natural State.
Mammals
Feral hogs are a big issue in the state of Arkansas. These animals are not native to America. They cause unnecessary competition for food sources, damage properties, and carry diseases. Some diseases they carry that are detrimental to native wildlife species are swine herpes virus, Trichinellids, and Brucellosis. Management of feral hogs is vital to the safety of the Arkansas ecosystem.
Norway rats, black rats, and house mice are invasive species in Arkansas that are commonly recognized. They spread disease and cause damage to structures and food supplies, being a great inconvenience to homeowners.
Fish
The Northern snakehead is a species of fish native to China but has been introduced into the water systems of Arkansas. These fish are resilient. They are able to survive on moist land and in mud during drought. Northern snakeheads compete with largemouth bass for food, and are very aggressive.
Asian Carp is another group of invasive fish species in Arkansas. This group includes black carp and silver carp. These fish are large and cause a dangerous risk to boaters. Carp are filter-feeding fish. This causes direct effect the zooplankton available for native fish species at many points in their life cycles.
Birds
Three common invasive bird species in Arkansas are the house sparrow, European starling, and rock pigeon. These birds are native to Europe and unfortunately made their way to America. These birds destroy crops and carry diseases. They are very prolific and out compete native bird species, disrupting the ecosystem.
Here at Turpentine Creek, we love wildlife, but sometimes wildlife can end up in the wrong places, often due to human actions. By learning about invasive species in your area, you can better help manage them!
Sources:
https://www.agfc.com/hunting/more-game/feral-hogs/
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/environment-nature/ar-invasives/invasive-animals/invasive-fish.aspx
https://naturalstatepestcontrol.com/blog/types-of-rodents-ar
https://www.naturalstatewildlife.com/arkansas-invasive-species-how-did-they-get-here
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/what-are-invasive-species
https://www.treehugger.com/invasive-species-wild-boar-5180784
https://www.gettingmoreontheground.com/2023/03/06/invasive-species-spotlight-house-sparrow/
https://www.eastsideaudubon.org/corvid-crier/2019/8/28/european-starling
*Published by Danika Torgersen on 10/26/2024*