Invasive Species

The invasive Peters’s rock agama lizard has spread to Central Florida, with sightings in Seminole, Polk and Volusia counties, according to UF/IFAS.

It's meant to incentivize hunters to capture the invasive snakes to win prizes among a share of $30,000. The grand prize winner with the most snakes humanely killed gets $10,000.

States like Florida and Texas have long borne the brunt of the pig problem and struggled to manage it as the situation grows more dire nationally. Officials have incentivized hunters by instituting few restrictions. But some people, including hunters themselves, question whether the approach is overkill.

A Florida man is making his mark on Tampa with handmade hats. Ash Dudney is one of the only creators in the state and hunts invasive species to use as adornments for his unique pieces.

The University of Florida team said the four species to watch out for next are alewife, zebra mussels, crab-eating macaques and red shrimp crayfish.

A coordinated series of efforts over 10 years to eradicate the spectacled caiman from the Western Everglades resulted in the removal of 251 of the creatures.

Rescue groups are using traps, hands and sometimes nets to capture the 60 to 100 lionhead rabbits living in a community near Fort Lauderdale.

The neighborhood is having to deal with a growing group of domestic rabbits on its streets after a breeder illegally let hers loose. Between 60 and 100 lionhead rabbits have taken up residence in the yards of a suburban Fort Lauderdale community.

The FWC wrote the measure's language, announced it as a legislative initiative, and lobbied for it right before they announced Operation Viper, in which the agency busted people who were allegedly illegally selling venomous snakes.

The population of an endangered bird, the Everglade snail kite, has rebounded recently. Scientists it's all thanks to an invasive snail that has provided kites with a new abundant food source.

It is speculated that the species moved into Key West as a result of Hurricane Ian.

The Florida Wildlife Conservation Committee has worked with a Manatee County community to remove the goldline snakehead fish from a local pond.