Lizard Wizard

Today we wanted to talk about invasive species, which are a huge issue here in Florida.

Invasive species appear when an animal or plant is brought from one part of the world to another, and ends up being highly successful in it's new home. While the spread of wildlife and plant life may not sound so bad at first, the issues occur when these species (who have no natural predators in the area) begin to outcompete and destroy our native wildlife. This is why it is so important to never let exotic pets go, and pay careful attention to what species of plants and animals are not allowed to be brought into your state. Florida's diverse and beautiful ecosystem is a paradise for lots of plants and animals, which is why it is so difficult to stop the spread once something is released. Here's some quick facts about one of the WORST invasive animals in Florida:

The armored catfish: Perhaps the absolute worst invasive animal here in FL, these armored pleco fish have little to no predators in Florida waters due to their tough armored plates. They burrow deeply into shorelines during mating season, which leads to harmful erosion. The worst thing about these fish though..they can walk. Yes, walk. On land. For up to 18 hours of travel time. You can imagine how horrifyingly quick they spread across the state with these abilities! So, once one lake or river fills up with tons of armored catfish, a few simply can leave and walk to another body of water. Armored catfish in Florida are thought to be a result of abandoned aquarium fish that were imported. This is why it's so important to not release your pets, no matter how harmless they seem!