Invasive exotic plants can be brought to a new area by wind, water, on animals or people or equipment.  Once introduced, they are able to out-compete native plants, reducing the quality and quantity of habitat by displacing native food and/or shelter sources required by wildlife.

Unfortunately, several types of invasive exotic plants are already in place at SWNP and volunteers are working to reduce/eliminate them:  bastard cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum), Brazilian vervain (Verbena brasiliensis), Chinaberry (Melia azerdarach), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), bush honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemium) , Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana), yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) and more.

For more information on invasive plants and animals and their impacts in Texas, see texasinvasives.org