Burmese Python, nonnative to Florida. Photo: Kevin Enge, FWC. Below: Guy Harvey with a full spear of lionfish. Opposite: Speared lionfish. Photo: FWC.
If
you’ve been even slightly conscious during the past few years, you’ve noticed an abundant amount of press devoted to the notorious lionfish. Let’s just say that the venomousspined fish has gotten more attention than the latest Star Wars movie. The world has taken note, and now there’s a lionfish cookbook, several websites dedicated to tracking their every move, countless videos and
social media sites about lionfish control, and 60 Minutes even did a story. Lionfish, along with Burmese pythons, are known as non-native invasive species, meaning they somehow were moved from their native habitats and ended up where they’re not welcome. The state of Florida is dealing with a hoard of relentless invaders—both of the animal and plant variety. Take the Gambian pouched rat. Please. It’s the world’s largest rat— bigger than most cats—and it’s settled in Florida, far from its home country of Gambia, Africa. These rats came to our shores because, believe it or not, some folks imported them as pets. Back in 2004, eight of the critters escaped from a breeding facility in the Florida Keys and established their own little rodent community. Now, Grassy Key has a population of big, fat African rats, although it’s not something you’ll likely find in their tourism brochures.
