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Biologists warn that the invasive Asian swamp eel may take over Florida and wipe out the bulk of certain native species.

One researcher even called it the “kudzu vine” of invasive species in Florida, comparing it to the infamous, highly aggressive, hard-to-control weed.

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Why Are Asian Swamp Eels Such A Problem?

According to researchers, populations of small fish in Florida were decimated once Asian swamp eels arrived. A recent study suggests that populations of two separate crayfish species dropped by more than 95% in Florida.

“Since 2015, their distribution just exploded,” lead author Matthew Pintar, a researcher at Florida International University, told the Miami Herald. “We have no idea how many there are now.”

The study notes that the species most heavily impacted by the introduction of the Asian swamp eels rely on predator-free habitats at the onset of the wet season for natural reproduction. The decline in these populations specifically implies that the introduction of the eels interfered with biological processes among these species, according to the researchers.

Asian swamp eels are also eaten for food, but the United States Geological Survey warns that raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels can carry a parasite that is deadly to humans.

How Did Asian Swamp Eels Get To Florida?

Asian swamp eels are not supposed to be in Florida. Researchers say they were first seen in Florida in 1997. A 2006 newspaper article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicated that the Asian swamp eel may have invaded Florida after it escaped from an aquarium, a fish farm or from a live fish market.

How Can The Invasion Be Prevented?

Ongoing restoration of the Florida Everglades is meant to address some of the species decline caused by the Asian swamp eel and other invasive species like it. But researchers warn that the restoration could be all for naught if something doesn’t change.

The USGS recommends drawing a hard line on the transportation and use of the eel. While the agency gathers data that will could ultimately help control the unruly population, the USGS does “highly discourage” the catching and transporting of Asian swamp eels for use as bait, food or pets.

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