Invasive green crabs threaten West Coast ecosystems. One solution? Otters
As invasive green crabs wreak havoc on California's estuaries, a new study has found that a restored sea otter population might be the solution.
invasive species
You might beat back phragmites, the scourge of wetlands, but then what?
Wetlands managers have spent years using fire and chemicals to fight phragmites, an invasive reed that chokes everything else out. But coaxing beneficial native plants to move back in is difficult.
Meet the ManhattAnt, the ant that's taken New York's streets by storm
The ManhattAnt has become the dominant ant species in the Big Apple, and scientists aren't sure why.
Federal grant to fund crayfish conservation efforts in North Carolina's coastal plains
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Competitive State Wildlife Grant Program has awarded more than $7.4 million in grants to study threatened wildlife across the country, including endangered crayfish in North Carolina.
Why you shouldn't worry about invasive Joro spiders
Joro spiders are spreading across the east coast. They are an invasive species that most likely arrived in shipping containers from eastern Asia. Today, we look into why some people find them scary, why to not panic about them and what their trajectory illustrates about the wider issue of invasive species.
Questions? You can also email those to shortwave@npr.org.
Questions? You can also email those to shortwave@npr.org.
Joro spiders are back in the news. Here's what the experts really think about them
Joro spiders — invasive, brightly colored, orb-weaving arachnids that have been spreading in the U.S. for the past several years — have captured the public's interest and horror once again. But spider experts say the jury's still out on the impact the spider will have.
Joro spiders are big and colorful, but they shouldn't be nightmare fodder
Researchers say the creatures pose little threat to humans but they are concerned about the growing prevalence of invasive species — a problem made worse by global trade and climate change.
Carolina Curious: Why can't powerline crews cut down more invasive trees?
On Carolina Curious, WFDD listener Julie Mullis wonders why more isn't being done to control invasive trees in the Piedmont and High Country.
Florida once again has a giant African land snail problem
The state is moving quickly to destroy the snails before the snails destroy Florida's crops. The snails contain both male and female reproductive organs and lay up to 500 eggs at a time.
This floating ocean garbage is home to a surprising amount of life from the coasts
A study of plastic trash hauled out of the Pacific Ocean found that most of it had been colonized by coastal life that was thriving right next to species that normally live in the open sea.