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Invasive and nonnative animals in Louisiana

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. 2025 Louisiana State Wildlife Action Plan
  2. USGS established records
  3. How to report
  4. Sources

64 nonnative animals are named on an official list for Louisiana: “2025 Louisiana State Wildlife Action Plan” (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries).

The USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database records an established population in Louisiana for 5 nonnative animals in the groups this guide covers.

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.

2025 Louisiana State Wildlife Action Plan

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2025 plan. 64 animals.

Established in Louisiana, per USGS records

The U.S. Geological Survey's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database tracks nonnative aquatic animals. These have at least one record with the status "established" in Louisiana, which USGS defines as a population showing evidence of reproduction and overwinter survival.

AnimalGroupFirst recordLatest recordCounties
Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctataSharks and Marine Life199820054
Cuban Treefrog Osteopilus septentrionalisFrogs and Toads201320259
Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostrisFrogs and Toads1975200611
Lionfish Pterois volitans/milesSharks and Marine Life20102017—
Nutria Myocastor coypusMammals1940202048

Source: U.S. Geological Survey. [2026]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [11/3/2026]. "Native Transplant" animals are native elsewhere in the US but not in Louisiana.

How to report a sighting in Louisiana

Nuisance alligators: contact an LDWF field office, or Operation Game Thief 800-442-2511 after hours and weekends. Sick/injured/stranded sea turtles or marine mammals: 844-SEA-TRTL (844-732-8785). Rabies: Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, 1-800-256-2748. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

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. 2025 Louisiana State Wildlife Action Plan. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2025 plan; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (40)
    “African Collared-Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea”
    “Argentine Ant Linepithema humile”
    “Argentine Black and White Tegu Salvator merianae”
    “Asian Clam Corbicula fluminea”
    “Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus”
    “Ball Python Python regius”
    “Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis”
    “Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus”
    “Black Rat Rattus rattus (Table 6.1 Invasive Species List, Tier 1)”
    “Boa Constrictor Boa constrictor”
    “Brahminy Blindsnake Indotyphlops braminus”
    “Brown Anole Anolis sagrei”
    “Brown Basilisk Basiliscus vittatus”
    “Brown Widow Latrodectus geometricus”
    “Burmese Python Python bivittatus”
    “Canada Goose (Feral only) Branta canadensis”
    “Capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris”
    “Caribbean Huntsman Spider Heteropoda venatoria”
    “Chinese Mantis Tenodera sinensis”
    “Common Carp Cyprinus carpio”
    “Cuban Treefrog Osteopilus septentrionalis”
    “Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis”
    “Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto”
    “European Honeybee Apis mellifera”
    “European Starling Sturnus vulgaris”
    “Feral Hog Sus scrofa (Table 6.1 Invasive Species List, Tier 1)”
    “Feral/Domestic Cat Felis catus”
    “Feral/Domestic Dog Canis familiaris”
    “Florida Softshell Apalone ferox”
    “Formosan Termite Coptotermes formosanus”
    “Freshwater Jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi”
    “Ghost Ant Tapinoma melanocephalum”
    “Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella”
    “Green Iguana Iguana iguana”
    “Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris”
    “House Mouse Mus musculus”
    “House Sparrow Passer domesticus”
    “Island Apple Snail or Maculata Apple Snail Pomacea maculata”
    “Japanese Beetle Popillia japonica”
    “Lionfish Pterois volitans & P. miles”
  2. Nuisance Alligators. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Operation Game Thief: 800-442-2511 / (for nuisance alligator reports after hours and on weekends)”
  3. U.S. Geological Survey. [2026]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [11/3/2026].