GREENWAYS & NATURAL LANDS

Exotic Animal Management

 
Many scientists nationwide believe that the spread of exotic species is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. Non-native animal species cause on average $123 billion worth of damage each year to crops and wildlands and have caused other problems, such as the clogging of water pipes by zebra mussels in the Great Lakes region.

The Seminole County Natural Lands Program is dedicated to eradicating where possible and maintaining control of exotic animal and plant infestations. Currently, there is a process in place that enables us to monitor and manage any of these problems that come up. Through our resource monitoring efforts, occurrences of exotic animal species are documented and, based on the sampling, estimates for degree of infestations are reached. At that point, the appropriate method is chosen for controlling the species to an acceptable level.

Currently, we have several animal species on Seminole County Natural Lands that are considered exotic. The species that accounts for the most cumulative damage on a natural lands property is the feral hog (Sus scrofa). The feral hog problem in Florida originated from the release of the domestic hog, which then began to proliferate. These hogs can return to the wild type phenotype (outward appearance) within 5 generations of breeding, which means that there are some wild hogs that closely resemble domestic pigs while others look more like a "traditional" wild hog, complete with tusks.

What kind of damage does a feral pig contribute? Imagine taking a tractor and plowing large swathes through the various habitats of natural areas and that is one of the most alarming types of damage done by the feral swine. Also, during these rampages of destruction, they catch and eat anything that is available, as they are a major omnivore. One of the favorite prey items of wild hogs is small snakes, which are voraciously attacked and then eaten.

	Another common invader, which has yet to really take a strong hold on a natural lands property is the Cuban Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei). This species was introduced from Cuba many years ago and is now agressively outcompeting the native green anole (Anolis carolinensis).