(The Center Square) – In addition to recovering from the devastation of hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit Florida 13 days apart, the state and other southeastern states may soon be grappling with more than 200 invasive species.
The floodwaters from Helene and Milton may have accelerated the spread of invasive wildlife and plant species into new areas in Florida and the states of Georgia, North and South Carolina and potentially Virginia and Maryland, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
It published new maps to track where aquatic non-native and invasive species may have been carried due to flooding associated with the hurricanes.
The USGS began creating flood and storm tracker maps to forecast the spread of invasive species in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey spread invasive species throughout the southeast Texas region.
“Invasive species are non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic damage, environmental harm, or a risk to human health or cultural practices. Invasive species can decrease agricultural production, compete with native plants and wildlife, impair critical water infrastructure, transmit disease to wildlife and humans, threaten commercial and native fisheries, and cost governments and industries billions of dollars,” USGS said.
Hurricane Helene’s preliminary map indicates that there are 222 possible non-native species that potentially spread as a result of storm-related flooding.
“Ninety species are considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters,” Ian Pfingsten, a USGS botanist who helped create the maps, said.
Hurricane Milton’s preliminary map indicates 114 possible non-native species potentially spread; 56 species are considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters, according to Pfingsten.
Because Florida was hit by two hurricanes in two weeks, overlap of invasive species is expected in both maps, which will be updated after final flooding data is available.
Among the invasive species on the list are Florida’s well-known Burmese python as well as the giant applesnail and Asian swamp eel. Both can pose a risk to human health as they are known to carry parasites, USGS says.
Hurricane Helene’s preliminary map indicates that flathead and blue catfish have the potential to spread to new areas, which are already invasive in the coastal plains and have demonstrated major food web impacts, USGS notes. Others may be Cuban treefrogs and aligatorweed.
“Cuban treefrogs prey on and outcompete native frog species, impact infrastructure, and secrete a noxious chemical that can cause burning in the eyes or nose if a human handles them. Alligatorweed can clog waterways, impact infrastructure, and can lead to stagnant water that supports mosquitos breeding,” USGS warns.
The maps were created using data from the USGS’s Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database, a clearinghouse of information related to nationally confirmed sightings of non-native aquatic species. Maintained by USGS scientists based in Gainesville, it contains 1,413 records of non-native aquatic plants and animals nationwide.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Florida within 13 days devastating, communities in late September and early October.
Milton was the third hurricane to hit Florida in one year, the sixth time the state has reported three hurricanes in one season since 1871. Excluding loss of life, estimated financial losses from Milton alone are in the $34 billion range.
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor
