Invasive and nonnative animals in Alaska
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
- Invasive Pike in Southcentral Alaska
- Invasive Species: Red-legged Frog (Biological Characteristics)
- Invasive Species: European Green Crab (Biological Characteristics)
- Invasive Species: Norway Rat (Biological Characteristics)
- Invasive Species
- Invasive Species: Didemnum Tunicate (Biological Characteristics)
- How to report
- Sources
9 nonnative animals are named on 6 official lists for Alaska: “Invasive Pike in Southcentral Alaska” (Alaska Department of Fish and Game), “Invasive Species: Red-legged Frog (Biological Characteristics)” (Alaska Department of Fish and Game), “Invasive Species: European Green Crab (Biological Characteristics)” (Alaska Department of Fish and Game), “Invasive Species: Norway Rat (Biological Characteristics)” (Alaska Department of Fish and Game), “Invasive Species” (Alaska Department of Fish and Game) and “Invasive Species: Didemnum Tunicate (Biological Characteristics)” (Alaska Department of Fish and Game).
To report a sighting, see how to report.
Being on a list of nonnative species does not always mean an animal is harmful or established: each list below is described in its source's terms. A sighting of a listed animal is still worth reporting to the agency.
Invasive Pike in Southcentral Alaska
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, undated page. 1 animal.
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Northern pike (outside native range) Esox lucius
Southcentral Alaska (native elsewhere in most of Alaska) Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Invasive Species: Red-legged Frog (Biological Characteristics)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, undated page. 1 animal.
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Photo: Mandy Hackney · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Red-legged frog Rana aurora
Chichagof Island (southeast of Hoonah) Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Invasive Species: European Green Crab (Biological Characteristics)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, undated page. 1 animal.
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European green crab Carcinus maenas
Annette Islands Reserve, southern Southeast Alaska (first detected July 2022) Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Invasive Species: Norway Rat (Biological Characteristics)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, undated page. 1 animal.
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Photo: Biswarup Ganguly · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Norway rat Rattus norvegicus
Ports and seabird colonies (ADF&G) Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Invasive Species
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, undated page. 4 animals.
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Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
Strays into Alaska waters with Pacific salmon Alaska Department of Fish and Game
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Photo: Surly Aardvark · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist European starling Sturnus vulgaris
First recorded in Fairbanks in 1960 Alaska Department of Fish and Game
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Photo: Emmett Collins-Sussman · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar
Single male found in a Fairbanks campground in 2006 Alaska Department of Fish and Game
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Photo: Abhipalsinghjadon1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Rock dove Columba livia
Invasive Species: Didemnum Tunicate (Biological Characteristics)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, undated page. 1 animal.
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Didemnum tunicate (D. vex) Didemnum vexillum
Whiting Harbor, near Sitka Alaska Department of Fish and Game
How to report a sighting in Alaska
Report invasive species to the ADF&G Invasive Species Hotline 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748) or [email protected]. Report dangerous wildlife encounters with the ADF&G wildlife encounter form (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=reportwildlifeencounter.main). Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Do not try to catch or handle the animal. A photo taken from a safe distance, the place and the date help the agency.
Sources
- Invasive Pike in Southcentral Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“For this reason, in Southcentral, the northern pike is an invasive species.”
- Invasive Species: Red-legged Frog (Distribution). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Invasive Species: European Green Crab (Biological Characteristics). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“ALERT!! Invasive European green crabs found in Alaska.”
- Invasive Species: Norway Rat (Pathways). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Invasive Species: European Starling (Pathways). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Invasive Species: Atlantic Salmon (Pathways). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Invasive Species: Gypsy Moth (Distribution). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Invasive Species: Didemnum Tunicate (Biological Characteristics). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Invasive Species — Didemnum Tunicate (Didemnum vexillum)”
- Invasive Species: Red-legged Frog (Biological Characteristics). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Invasive Species — Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)”
- Invasive Species: Norway Rat (Biological Characteristics). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Invasive Species — Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)”
- Invasive Species. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- How to Report an Invasive Species you saw in Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Call the Invasive Species Hotline: 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748)”