An invasive species is an introduced plant or animal that harms its new environment. Invasive species damage bioregions and habitats, causing environmental and ecological damage. They are a global problem, from Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades to the Northern Snakehead in the Amu Darya of Uzbekistan. We can find invasive species in our yards, parks, and throughout our environment. When we find them, we can remove them.
By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA
The world that God made is magnificent, a web of plants and animals dedicated to giving glory to the Creator and enjoyment and sustenance to His creatures. In His perfect design, everything has a time and a place. Trouble comes when a plant or animal moves, or is moved, outside its time or place.[1] The Northern Snakehead fish is native to East Asia and is an important source of food for people and animals. When Soviet authorities tried to bring the Northern Snakehead to the vulnerable Central Asian environment, trouble began. The Burmese Python is native to Southeast Asia. When Floridians bought Pythons as pets, and then released them into the Everglades when the snakes got too big to keep at home, trouble began. Pythons proliferated, growing to numbers in the hundreds of thousands. From 1996 to 2011, sightings of furry mammals dropped 90% due to predation of raccoons, opossums, bobcats, rabbits, and foxes. Burmese pythons are hard to find, proliferate rapidly (females hatch 50-100 eggs per year), and the largest ones can even kill alligators. Only the ultimate apex predator, man, using a combination of hunting and scientific methods, can turn the tide.
I stand in awe of the God who created this universe and have a fond affection for His creatures, whether plants or animals. Though not created in the image of God (imago dei), like man is, each living being has a unique environment, genetic makeup, history, and personality. Physical places such as grasslands, mountains, forests, jungles, and deserts provide the stage on which we live our lives, and phenomena like ocean tides and the northern lights inspire wonder. The Lord commanded us to take care of the garden, the Creation, which He made. We were to care for the earth like a good shepherd cares for his sheep. However, man’s footprint on the environment has been heavy and not always good. An adventure brought this home in spades.
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