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What is an invasive animal or pests species?<\/strong><\/p>\n Invasive animal and pest species are wildlife (invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals), either aquatic or terrestrial, that are:<\/p>\n Through aggressive reproduction, environmental endurance, and lack of predators, these species can outcompete native wildlife for food, habitat and other needed resources. In the worst case, they can even cause the extinction of local native species.<\/p>\n Non-native wildlife species have been introduced to our state both directly (e.g., stocking, release, biocontrol) and accidentally (e.g., hitchhiking in shipping material and other goods, escape from captivity). In some instances, invasions have occurred through range expansion (species expand their natural range when obstacles are removed or other opportunities arise). However, not all non-natives become invasive<\/strong> or cause harm. Many of these non-native animals are well established in New Jersey, some of which are now common. The ones that do cause harm and spread beyond control are considered \u201cinvasive\u201d.<\/p>\n Pests vs. Invasives: What is the difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n The few non-native species that become \u201cinvasive\u201d have a profound negative impact on the communities where they become established. They essentially push out, kill, or change the ecosystem severely, making it uninhabitable to the original species. The term \u201cpest\u201d is a special designation given to species (often invertebrates but can include plants and animals) that applies mainly to human interests.<\/p>\n Pests are species that \u201cpose a threat to health, environmental, economic, or aesthetic resources\u201d (USDA Integrated Pest Management<\/a>). These can sometimes be native species. However, an animal that is a pest in one environment may not be one in others. Some invasives may not necessarily become \u201cpests\u201d since they may not directly affect human activities or livelihoods. This is not to say that they do not exert other stressors that create impacts to native species or natural communities. For our purposes, we refer to \u201cpests\u201d <\/strong>here as non-native, invasive species that negatively impact an ecosystem<\/strong> and often human interests or economic resources<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Common and Prevalent Invasive Animals and Pests<\/strong><\/p>\n Invasive species can be assigned categories based on how abundant they are or if they may be of concern to us in the future. Invasives species that are common and prevalent are considered to be \u201cwidespread\u201d. Those that have few populations in the state but are expected to increase are \u201cemerging\u201d invasives. Those not yet reported in New Jersey but found in adjacent states are placed on a \u201cwatchlist\u201d. Current information on invasive species (plants and wildlife) is collected and maintained by The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team (FoHVOS – NJISST<\/a>); list is available here: NJISST 2023 – IS Animals & Pests<\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n Some of the most familiar and widespread invasive animals and pests<\/strong> are listed below. Although not an exhaustive list, these species represent those most commonly encountered and with known impacts.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”sky” border_width=”5″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n For more information see the NJ Fish and Wildlife Invasive Invertebrates page<\/a>.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”478″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”482″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”479″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”481″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”486″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”480″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”sky” border_width=”5″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n For more information please visit the NJ Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Invasive Species page<\/a> and the DEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring Invasive Fish page<\/a>.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”622″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”599″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”600″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”sky” border_width=”5″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”499″ img_size=”500×333″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”sky” border_width=”5″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”488″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”489″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”490″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”sky” border_width=”5″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”492″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n What\u2019s on the Menu When Your Cat Goes Out? Probably More Than You Think – The New York Times (nytimes.com)<\/a><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”493″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”494″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][breadcrumb-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Invasive Animals and Pests What is an invasive animal or pests species? Invasive animal and pest species are wildlife (invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals), either aquatic or terrestrial, that are: Non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and Whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-233","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/233\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/invasive-species\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
Invertebrates<\/h2>\n
Emerald Ash Borer<\/a>
\nAgrilus planipennis<\/em><\/h4>\nSpotted Lanternfly (Early Instar)<\/a>
\nLycorma delicatula<\/em><\/h4>\nGypsy (spongy) Moth-Larva<\/a>
\nLymantria dispar<\/em><\/h4>\nSpotted Lanternfly (Late Instar)<\/a>
\nLycorma delicatula<\/em><\/h4>\nLonghorned Tick<\/a> <\/i>
\nHaemaphysalis longicornis<\/em><\/h4>\nSpotted Lanternfly (Adult)<\/a>
\nLycorma delicatula<\/em><\/h4>\nFish<\/h2>\n
Carp
\nC. idella<\/em><\/a> |\u00a0H. molitrix<\/a> | H. nobolis<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\nFlathead Catfish<\/a>
\nPylodictis olivaris<\/em><\/h4>\nNorthern Snakehead<\/a> <\/i>
\nChanna spp.<\/em><\/h4>\nReptiles<\/h2>\n
Red-eared Slider<\/a>
\nTrachemys scripta elegans<\/em><\/h4>\nBirds<\/h2>\n
European Starling<\/a>
\nSturnus vulgaris<\/em><\/h4>\nHouse Sparrow<\/a>
\nPasser domesticus<\/em><\/h4>\nBrown-headed Cowbird<\/a>
\nMolothrus ater<\/em><\/h4>\nMammals<\/h2>\n
Feral Cat<\/a>
\nFelis domesticus<\/em><\/h4>\nNorway (Brown) Rat<\/a>
\nRattus norvegicus<\/em><\/h4>\nHouse Mouse<\/a>
\nMus musculus<\/em><\/h4>\n