It might be a new year, but for North Carolina’s environment there are many of the same problems from species that shouldn’t be here or have been drawn to the Tar Heel State by our warming weather thanks to climate change.
Some might be considered cute, others pests by most. But what they share in common is the real or potential impact they can have on native species that often aren’t equipped to deal with the interlopers.
From phragmites to fire ants to kudzu, some of these non-natives have been here long enough that they have become established in our ecosystems and are too widespread and adapted to be wiped out.
But others are just getting their foothold in the Tar Heel State. And while North Carolina isn’t usually their first landing spot in the U.S., research and experiences in those other locations offer a vision of what impacts we can expect.
Here’s a quick look back at some of the invasives that made news last year, whether as new arrivals or because of their continuing spread across the state.