States Wildlife
Menu

Invasive and nonnative animals in Mississippi

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. Wild Hog Program
  2. Control Household Insect Pests (Publication 2443)
  3. Annotated Checklist of the Recent Mammals of Mississippi (Jones and Carter; Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, No. 128)
  4. Mississippi Amphibians and Reptiles (Mississippi Herpetology Checklist), Revised 2012
  5. Aquatic Nuisance Species
  6. Invasive Species
  7. Mississippi State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species (Final Draft)
  8. USGS established records
  9. How to report
  10. Sources

20 nonnative animals are named on 7 official lists for Mississippi: “Wild Hog Program” (MDWFP), “Control Household Insect Pests (Publication 2443)” (Mississippi State University Extension Service), “Annotated Checklist of the Recent Mammals of Mississippi (Jones and Carter; Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, No. 128)” (The Museum, Texas Tech University (co-author C. H. Carter, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science); linked as a download from the MMNS Mammals Collections page), “Mississippi Amphibians and Reptiles (Mississippi Herpetology Checklist), Revised 2012” (MDWFP), “Aquatic Nuisance Species” (MDWFP), “Invasive Species” (MDWFP) and “Mississippi State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species (Final Draft)” (Mississippi Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force; hosted by MDWFP).

The USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database records an established population in Mississippi for 4 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.

Wild Hog Program

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), undated page. 1 animal.

Control Household Insect Pests (Publication 2443)

Mississippi State University Extension Service, Publication 2443. 1 animal.

Annotated Checklist of the Recent Mammals of Mississippi (Jones and Carter; Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, No. 128)

The Museum, Texas Tech University (co-author C. H. Carter, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science); linked as a download from the MMNS Mammals Collections page, published 1989-06-30. 4 animals.

Mississippi Amphibians and Reptiles (Mississippi Herpetology Checklist), Revised 2012

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MDWFP), archived copy, captured April 5, 2024. 3 animals.

Aquatic Nuisance Species

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), undated page. 5 animals.

  • Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

  • Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus

  • Giant Applesnail Pomacea maculata

  • Northern Snakehead Channa argus

  • Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Invasive Species

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MDWFP), undated page. 1 animal.

  • Nile Tilapia

Mississippi State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species (Final Draft)

Mississippi Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force; hosted by MDWFP, March 20, 2013. 5 animals.

Established in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi, which USGS defines as a population showing evidence of reproduction and overwinter survival.

AnimalGroupFirst recordLatest recordCounties
Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctataSharks and Marine Life199320013
Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostrisFrogs and Toads199920153
Lionfish Pterois volitans/milesSharks and Marine Life201320181
Nutria Myocastor coypusMammals1956202523

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 Mississippi.

How to report a sighting in Mississippi

Bear problems or sightings, and nuisance-animal guidance: MDWFP Wildlife Bureau (601) 432-2199. Nuisance animal technical guidance is also available from USDA Wildlife Services (MS) (662) 325-3014. Coastal invasive species: MDMR Invasive Species Coordinator (228) 523-4113. Sawfish sightings: 1-844-4SAWFISH. MDWFP

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. Annotated Checklist of the Recent Mammals of Mississippi (Jones and Carter; Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, No. 128). The Museum, Texas Tech University (co-author C. H. Carter, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science); linked as a download from the MMNS Mammals Collections page. published 1989-06-30; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (4)
    “Mus musculus (house mouse).-Distributed throughout state (including Horn Island), usually in close association with humans, but feral populations also are known.”
    “Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat).-Common in and near human habitations in state and on Horn Island.”
    “Myocastor coypus (nutria).-Found in aquatic habitats throughout state; also on Horn Island.”
    “Rattus rattus (roof rat).-Widespread throughout state, including Horn Island; sometimes found in and around human habitations in rural settings.”
  2. Control Household Insect Pests (Publication 2443). Mississippi State University Extension Service. Publication 2443; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Imported fire ants (Solenopsis spp.) are nonnative ants that invaded the state in the early part of the 20th century.”
  3. Mississippi State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species (Final Draft). Mississippi Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force; hosted by MDWFP. March 20, 2013; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (5)
    “Commercial shrimp fishermen reported landing fifteen Asian tiger shrimp from Mississippi waters in 2011.”
    “Australian Spotted Jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata)”
    “In the last two years, Asian tiger shrimp and lionfish have emerged as new aquatic invasive species threatening Mississippi”
    “Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus)”
    “In Mississippi, zebra mussels are established in the Mississippi River at mile 537 at the Warfield Point Revetment”
  4. Wild Hog Program. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Wild hogs are a non-native invasive species that have been spreading at an alarming rate throughout the North America.”
  5. Mississippi Amphibians and Reptiles (Mississippi Herpetology Checklist), Revised 2012. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MDWFP). archived copy, captured April 5, 2024; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (3)
    “A. sagrei - Brown Anole*”
    “E. planirostris Greenhouse Frog*”
    “H. turcicus - Mediterranean House Gecko*”
  6. Aquatic Nuisance Species. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (5)
    “Notable Nuisance Species Bighead Carp Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis”
    “Black Carp Black Carp Mylopharngodon piceus”
    “Giant Applesnail Giant Applesnail Pomacea maculata”
    “Northern Snakehead Northern Snakehead Channa argus”
    “Silver Carp Silver Carp Hypophthlmichthys molitrix”
  7. Invasive Species. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MDWFP). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Examples of invasive species: Chinese Privet Nile Tilapia”
  8. Black Bear Program. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “If you are experiencing problems involving black bears or want to report a recent bear sighting, please contact MDWFP at (601) 432-2199.”
  9. U.S. Geological Survey. [2026]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [11/3/2026].