• Animals

Invasive Zebra Mussels Hitch a Ride on Aquarium Moss Balls

• invasive species
• mussels

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer Federal officials have found zebra mussels catching a ride on aquarium décor sold across the U.S. Pet stores in 21 states have now recalled moss balls sold as aquarium accessories due to the presence of the invasive species. Zebra mussels, native to Eurasia, were introduced to U.S. waters in the 1980s and have been wreaking […]

• Sustainability

37% of UNESCO Heritage Sites Damaged by Climate Change

• #30x30
• biodiversity
• climate change
• fishing
• Great Barrier Reef
• hunting
• invasive species
• IUCN
• tourism
• World Heritage Sites

Many of the world’s most well-known treasures are UNESCO heritage sites, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Taj Mahal. Yet dozens of these sites are under threat from climate change. Flooding, droughts, fires, and the bleaching of coral reefs have marred 83 of the 252 World Heritage Sites.

Why this Matters: UNESCO World Heritage sites are incredibly important ecosystems and cultural symbols, and it would be a tragedy to lose them.

• Animals

One Cool Thing: Hunting Pythons in the Everglades Even During a Pandemic

• Everglades
• Florida
• invasive species
• python

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission and its Southwest Water Management Division caught a record 2,000 Burmese pythons in Florida’s Everglades in just the first eight months of 2020. The good news is those snakes are gone. The bad news is there are that many Burmese pythons in the Everglades.  Check out the cool photos of […]

• Forests

“Season Creep” is Affecting Fall Folliage

• climate change
• fall
• foliage
• invasive species

If you’ve ever noticed that there’s something off about the timing and duration of fall foliage where you live–you’re not imagining things! As with many ecological processes, human activity is shifting the arrival of our seasons through what’s described as “season creep.“ As the Washington Post wrote this past weekend: “Human activities transform not just […]

• Animals

Invasive Lanternflies Now Spotted in New Jersey

• insect
• invasive species
• lanternfly

by Julia Fine, ODP Contributing Writer While lanternflies are striking in appearance, scientists, farmers, and officials have good reason to fear this invasive species with the potential to decimate agriculture across the United States. Native to Asia, the lanternfly first appeared in Pennsylvania, thought to have come from China in a shipping container. From there […]

• Animals

One “Creepy” Thing: Georgia’s Newest Pest — The Tegu Lizard

• #30x30
• conservation
• environment
• invasive species
• lizard
• science

The New York Times reported over the weekend that Georgia has yet another problem besides continuing increases in COVID patients.  An invasive South American exotic lizard species has made its way to Georgia where it is now threatening native wildlife because, according to state Fish & Game officials, they can eat whatever they want (insert […]