From the depths of the Everglades to the coral reefs of the Keys, here are the most impactful invasive species currently threatening Florida's ecosystems.
1. The Burmese Python: The Everglades' Apex Problem
The Burmese python remains the "face" of Florida's invasive species crisis. Since establishing a breeding population in the 1990s, these constrictors have decimated native mammal populations in the Greater Everglades, with declines of over 90% for raccoons, opossums, and marsh rabbits in some areas.
- 2026 Status: While thousands are removed annually—including successful removals during the most recent Florida Python Challenge—biologists estimate that tens of thousands more remain hidden in the sawgrass.
- The Ecological Cost: Pythons have rewritten the food web. Native predators like alligators and Florida panthers now face direct competition. Research in early 2026 has also focused on the "Asian lungworm," a parasite hitchhiking on pythons that is now infecting native Florida snake species.
2. Lionfish: The Reef Raiders
Beneath the waves, the Indo-Pacific lionfish is considered one of the most aggressively invasive species on the planet. With no natural predators in the Atlantic and toxic spines that deter local hunters, they are vacuuming up native reef fish.
- High Reproductive Rate: A single female can lay up to 2 million eggs a year. They consume more than 50 native fish species, including juvenile grouper and snapper, threatening Florida's billion-dollar commercial and recreational fishing industries.
- Impact on Reef Health: By eating the fish that graze on algae, lionfish indirectly cause algal overgrowth, which can smother and kill coral reefs.
3. The "Lizard Wave": Tegus and Agamas
While green iguanas are a common sight, two other lizard species are causing significant alarm as they expand their footprint across the state in 2026.
- Argentine Black and White Tegu: These large, intelligent lizards are now established in Miami-Dade, St. Lucie, and Hillsborough counties. Unlike many tropical invaders, tegus can survive colder temperatures by burrowing, putting North Florida at risk. They have a voracious appetite for the eggs of ground-nesting birds, alligators, and the endangered Gopher Tortoise.
- Peter's Rock Agama: These colorful African lizards have expanded significantly, with sightings now confirmed as far north as Jacksonville. They outcompete native anoles, potentially disrupting local insect control cycles.
4. Feral Hogs: The Billion-Dollar Bulldozers
Though they have been in Florida since the 1500s, feral hogs remain among the most destructive invasive mammals in the state.
- The Damage: There are an estimated 500,000 feral hogs in Florida. Their "rooting" behavior—using their snouts to plow through soil—destroys native plants, causes soil erosion, and ruins crops.
- Economic Impact: Between property damage and agricultural loss, feral hogs cost the state of Florida an estimated $2 billion annually. They also carry over 30 diseases that can be transmitted to livestock and humans.
5. The "Green Menace": Invasive Plants
Invasive plants are "silent" killers that suffocate the landscape from the ground up, often outcompeting native vegetation for light and nutrients.
- Old World Climbing Fern: This vine grows into dense "mats" that can reach 100 feet high, completely smothering trees. It also acts as a "fire ladder," allowing ground fires to get to the tree canopy that would otherwise survive.
- Hydrilla: This aquatic plant clogs Florida's waterways, making boating difficult and depleting dissolved oxygen levels, which can lead to massive fish kills.
How Residents Can Help in 2026
Management of these species costs Florida over $30 million every year. State officials emphasize that the most effective tool is public participation.
- "Don't Let It Loose": The majority of Florida's invasive reptiles started as pets. Use the FWC's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program to surrender unwanted pets without penalty rather than releasing them.
- Report Sightings: Use the IveGot1 mobile app to report sightings of tegus, pythons, or unusual lizards. Early detection is the only way to prevent a new species from becoming a permanent resident.
- Plant Native: Replacing invasive landscape plants with native species provides a "home field advantage" for Florida's local birds and butterflies.