Fighting an Invasion
Invasive species are destructive or aggressive plants and animals that greatly alter the natural balance of native area. They out compete native species for resources and reduce biodiversity. Invasives are extremely expensive to eradicate and pose one of the largest threats to natural systems.
Brazilian pepper
The ornamental bright red berries and green foliage of the prolific Brazilian pepper, is why this showy plant from South America was imported to Florida, its seeds are dispersed by birds, mammals, and water. This plant is in the family that includes poison ivy, may cause skin irritations, and now blankets over 700,000 acres in Florida! The battle to fight this run-away invasive is being waged with prescribed fires, chemicals and mechanical treatments.
Burmese python
Burmese pythons native to southeast Asia, are one of the worlds longest snakes and have been directly released into the wild in south Florida. These snakes had a severe impact within the Everglades and big Cypress Swamp, feeding upon native birds, mammals and even alligators. Licensed hunters are permitted to reduce the number of Burmese pythons in the Preserve.
Mayan cichlid
Mayan cichlid fish are able to tolerate a wide range of salinity, thus they have speed throughout the canals in south Florida, having escaped from fish farms, where they are grown for the aquarium trade.
Marker includes Spanish translations
Erected by National
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment.
Location. 25° 51.462′ N, 81° 1.997′ W. Marker is in Ochopee, Florida, in Collier County. It is on Florida Trail. Marker located inside Big Cypress Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee FL 34141, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast and in the Everglades. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Big Cypress National Preserve (a few steps from this marker); H. P. Williams Roadside Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Wildlife & You (within shouting distance of this marker); Birds of Big Cypress (within shouting distance of this marker); Stephen Tyng Mather (within shouting distance of this marker); Big Cypress (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1936 Seminole Conference (approx. 5 miles away).
Also see . . . Florida Invasive Species Council. Website homepage (Submitted on April 10, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 592 times since then and 21 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 28, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
