Invasive species are so common in the Keys, the Everglades and South Florida that young people, who have never seen a bream, would think they are an invasive specie if there were any left. Now there are snakeheads, three of four kinds of tilapia, circlips, peacock bass, lionfish on the reefs, pythons and anacondas, poisionous toads or frogs, 9 pound african rats in the keys, iguanas and monitor lizzards, and a huge variety of other tropical fish, birds minnows and snakes.
It's the same with plants, water hycinth, water orchids, hydrilla, mellaluca, the list would fill a book.
Nearly all from the exotic pet trade or aquariums. It's absurd.
For two or three years now, the fed and state task forces have been spending our money trying to poison all the giant rats that the hordes of feral cats are afraid of. All because some idiot was raising them in Grassy Key (perfectly fine and legal) then let them all go (perfectly fine and legal I assume since he's never even gone to court). He certainly wouldn't be able to afford to pay the cost of getting rid of them and I'm sure it's too late for that now anyhow. Surely a pregnant one made it to the mainland by now in a garbage truck or somebody's boat.
There is no hope when we have idiots in charge of writing policy and laws without penalties for other idiots.
