Arkansas Invasive Wildlife

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. Other animals were are brought to a new area to be used for sports like hunting. Some are brought to farms as livestock and are turned loose. Invasive species can even be brought to a new country in an effort to help manage other invasive species (which usually gets out of hand and backfires). Below are a few of the 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 are Turpentine Creek we love wildlife, but not all wildlife is where it is supposed to be, and humans are usually to blame. When you learn about the invasive species around you, you can be better equipped to help with the management of them!