Invasive Species in Texas

By Ethan B. & Addison P.
Published May 15, 2024

Have you ever seen an animal or plant that doesn't seem to fit in? You may have found an invasive species. “What's an invasive species?” you could ask. An invasive species is an animal that is not supposed to be where it is now. How do invasive species get here? Invasive species can arrive here by ships or are released into the wild because they got too big for human captivity. 

One example of invasive species is the redbreast sunfish. Why are redbreast sunfish invasive? The texas invasive species institute states “This sunfish has been recorded in Texas since the 1960s and already has placed several fish on the endangered species list. This sunfish competes with the native longear sunfish directly, causing the balance of the ecosystems to be thrown off.” This shows that a fish so small can cause a big difference in the ecosystem. They can lay up to 1,000 eggs at a time, helping these fish to become more and more invasive. They can also carry parasites that can kill other fish.

The Norway rat, also known as Rattus norvegicus, is a member of the family Muridae. Norway rats live in close proximity to humans in basements of homes or holes in foundations, but also live in marshy areas or fields where no human contact occurs. Norway rats are known for their prolific breeding with gestation periods lasting only 21-23 days and an average of 8 offspring per litter. Breeding seasons are not specified with copulation occurring regularly, but decreases during winter months. They have been known to eat young chicken, pigs, sheep, and chicken eggs! 

Invasive species can put infections in waterways, animals we need to survive, and if we are not careful, they can infect us, too. It is very important that we do not let animals overpopulate and do not release pet fish into lakes, even if they already are overpopulating. Volunteer at your local park, refuge or other wildlife area to help remove invasive species. People can make animals go extinct if we are not careful with invasive species. The food chain still matters. 

For more information about invasive species in Texas, check out Texas Invasive Species Institute.