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Invasive and nonnative animals in Indiana

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. Wall Lizards
  2. Mediterranean Gecko
  3. Feral / Wild Hog
  4. Terrestrial Invasive Species - Vertebrates
  5. Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick)
  6. Spotted Lanternfly
  7. Terrestrial Invasive Species - Invertebrates
  8. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
  9. Aquatic Invasive Species - Fish
  10. Aquatic Invasive Species - Invertebrates
  11. How to report
  12. Sources

20 nonnative animals are named on 10 official lists for Indiana: “Wall Lizards” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife), “Mediterranean Gecko” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife), “Feral / Wild Hog” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife), “Terrestrial Invasive Species - Vertebrates” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources), “Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick)” (Indiana Department of Health), “Spotted Lanternfly” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology), “Terrestrial Invasive Species - Invertebrates” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources), “Brown Marmorated Stink Bug” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology), “Aquatic Invasive Species - Fish” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources) and “Aquatic Invasive Species - Invertebrates” (Indiana Department of Natural Resources).

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.

Wall Lizards

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife, dateModified 2026-03-09. 1 animal.

Mediterranean Gecko

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife, dateModified 2026-03-09. 1 animal.

Feral / Wild Hog

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife, dateModified 2026-03-09. 1 animal.

Terrestrial Invasive Species - Vertebrates

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, dateModified 2026-03-09. 2 animals.

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick)

Indiana Department of Health, dateModified 2026-10-01. 1 animal.

  • Asian longhorned tick Haemaphysalis longicornis

Spotted Lanternfly

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, dateModified 2026-03-09. 1 animal.

Terrestrial Invasive Species - Invertebrates

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, dateModified 2026-04-21. 4 animals.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, dateModified 2026-03-12. 1 animal.

Aquatic Invasive Species - Fish

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, dateModified 2026-03-09. 5 animals.

  • Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

  • Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus

  • Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus

  • Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

  • Snakehead Family Channidae

Aquatic Invasive Species - Invertebrates

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, dateModified 2026-04-21. 3 animals.

  • Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea

  • quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis

  • zebra mussel
    Photo: Harukano · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

    zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha

How to report a sighting in Indiana

Invasive species: report online via EDDMapS or the GLEDN app; terrestrial invasives 1-866-NO-EXOTIC (1-866-663-9684), [email protected]; aquatic invasives [email protected]. Nuisance wildlife: DNR does not remove wildlife; hire a licensed wildlife control operator; DNR Customer Service 317-232-4200 or [email protected]. Mammal sightings (armadillo, mountain lion, etc.): DNR Report a Mammal form. Gecko / wall lizard sightings: [email protected]. Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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

  1. Wall Lizards. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife. dateModified 2026-03-09; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Common wall lizards are not native to North America”
  2. Mediterranean Gecko. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife. dateModified 2026-03-09; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Little is known about how this introduced non-native species affects local ecosystems.”
  3. Feral / Wild Hog. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife. dateModified 2026-03-09; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Wild hogs—also called wild pigs, wild boar, or feral swine—are an invasive species in Indiana.”
  4. Spotted Lanternfly. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology. dateModified 2026-03-09; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “In July 2021, a population of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was identified in Indiana in Switzerland County, near the Ohio River.”
  5. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology. dateModified 2026-03-12; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “In Indiana, it was first collected in Elkhart County in October 2010 and is now distributed statewide.”
  6. Terrestrial Invasive Species - Vertebrates. Indiana Department of Natural Resources. dateModified 2026-03-09; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Cygnus olor … Living with Wildlife: Mute Swans”
  7. Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick). Indiana Department of Health. dateModified 2026-10-01; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Asian longhorned ticks (ALHTs) are not native to the United States but have been present as an invasive species since at least 2017. The first detection of ALHTs in Indiana occurred in April 2023.”
  8. Terrestrial Invasive Species - Invertebrates. Indiana Department of Natural Resources. dateModified 2026-04-21; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (4)
    “Asian long-horned beetle … Anoplophora glabripennis”
    “…emerald ash borer … Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire”
    “…giant African land snail … Achatina fulica”
    “…spongy moth … Lymantria dispar”
  9. Aquatic Invasive Species - Fish. Indiana Department of Natural Resources. dateModified 2026-03-09; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “The Exotic Fish Rule (312 IAC 9-6-7) designates 13 species or families of invasive fish as prohibited species.”
  10. Aquatic Invasive Species - Invertebrates. Indiana Department of Natural Resources. dateModified 2026-04-21; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “The Mussel Rule (312 IAC 9-9-3) designates three species of invasive mussels as prohibited species.”
  11. Invasive Species. Indiana Department of Natural Resources. dateModified 2026-09-08; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Discuss terrestrial invasives 1-866 NO EXOTIC (1-866-663-9684) [email protected] Discuss aquatic invasives 317-233-0755 [email protected]”