Recent hurricanes and associated flooding may have transported hundreds of nonnative species into Florida and Georgia, according to maps prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
A preliminary map for Hurricane Helene indicates that 222 nonnative species “had the potential to spread due to storm-related flooding, of which 90 species are considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters,” said Ian Pfingsten, a USGS one of the scientists who created the maps, in a press release.
The preliminary map for Hurricane Milton indicates 114 possible non-native species had the potential to spread, of which 56 species are considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters, he added.
Among species of concern that may have been spread by Helene and Milton are the giant applesnail and the Asian swamp eel. Both species can pose a risk to human health as they are known to carry parasites…