The aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton might extend beyond physical destruction, as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has flagged the potential spread of invasive species across Florida and Georgia territories. According to WFLA, these hurricanes facilitated the transport of numerous nonnative organisms, with USGS preliminary maps indicating the possibility of 222 species from Hurricane Helene alone, venturing into new environments as a result of storm-related flooding. Among these, a notable 90 species are identified as invasive.
USGS maps also illustrated the potential dissemination of 114 nonnative species during Hurricane Milton's rampage; and, of these, 56 are deemed invasive. "Once a species is introduced by spreading to a new location with suitable conditions, there is a possibility of that species establishing a population in its new environment, especially for highly invasive species that are documented to rapidly grow and reproduce without the constraints from the environment where the species originated," as described in a USGS report quoted by WFLA.
The severity of the situation is further compounded by the timing of the storms—with only weeks apart; Floridian ecosystems are faced with a compounded threat from a suite of invasive species. Notable among these invasive species are the Burmese python, the giant apple snail, and the Asian swamp eel—organisms that have well-established reputations for disrupting local wildlife balances and impacting human health due to their capacity for carrying parasites.
Concerns regarding these species' impacts encompass agricultural decline, damage to native plants and wildlife, impairment of crucial water infrastructure, as well as disease transmission among wildlife and humans, leading to exorbitant costs for governments and industries. "Invasive species are non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic damage, environmental harm, or a risk to human health or cultural practices," explained Ian Pfingsten, a USGS botanist, in a statement obtained by WTSP. Additionally, these invasive organisms, have the potential to infest and further destabilize already vulnerable ecosystems recovering from hurricane damage.
