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Invasive and nonnative animals in New York

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. Spotted Lanternfly
  2. Terrestrial Invasive Species
  3. Aquatic Invasive Species
  4. Northern Snakehead
  5. Green Crab
  6. Eurasian Boar
  7. Lionfish
  8. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: reptiles, New York
  9. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: amphibians, New York
  10. USGS established records
  11. How to report
  12. Sources

18 nonnative animals are named on 9 official lists for New York: “Spotted Lanternfly” (NYSDEC), “Terrestrial Invasive Species” (NYSDEC), “Aquatic Invasive Species” (NYSDEC), “Northern Snakehead” (NYSDEC), “Green Crab” (NYSDEC), “Eurasian Boar” (NYSDEC), “Lionfish” (NYSDEC), “Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: reptiles, New York” (USGS) and “Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: amphibians, New York” (USGS).

The USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database records an established population in New York for 1 nonnative animal 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.

Spotted Lanternfly

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured August 15, 2026. 1 animal.

Terrestrial Invasive Species

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured October 14, 2026. 3 animals.

Aquatic Invasive Species

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured July 16, 2026. 1 animal.

  • Round goby

Northern Snakehead

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured October 24, 2026. 1 animal.

  • Northern snakehead Channa argus

Green Crab

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured April 11, 2026. 1 animal.

  • Green crab Carcinus maenas

    New York's marine coastal environments NYSDEC

Eurasian Boar

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured June 8, 2026. 1 animal.

  • Eurasian boar

Lionfish

NYSDEC, archived copy, captured January 20, 2026. 1 animal.

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: reptiles, New York

USGS, undated page. 8 animals.

  • American alligator
    Photo: Hillebrand Steve, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

    American alligator Alligator mississippiensis

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Chinese softshell Pelodiscus sinensis

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Common Caiman
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

    Common Caiman Caiman crocodilus

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Florida Softshell
    Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Florida Softshell Apalone ferox

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Mississippi Map Turtle
    Photo: Sam Kieschnick · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

    Mississippi Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Northern Red-bellied Cooter
    Photo: Joshua Liverman · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

    Northern Red-bellied Cooter Pseudemys rubriventris

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Red-eared Slider
    Photo: ncb1221 · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

    Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

  • Yellow-bellied Slider Trachemys scripta scripta

    New York (USGS NAS record; establishment not stated on this list) USGS

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: amphibians, New York

USGS, undated page. 1 animal.

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

AnimalGroupFirst recordLatest recordCounties
Lionfish Pterois volitans/milesSharks and Marine Life200120242

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 New York.

How to report a sighting in New York

Rattlesnake sightings or questions: your DEC Regional Wildlife Office. NYSDEC

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. Spotted Lanternfly. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured August 15, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) or SLF, is an invasive insect pest from Asia”
  2. Green Crab. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured April 11, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “…populations in New York are well established.”
  3. Lionfish. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured January 20, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “In New York, juvenile lionfish have sporadically been observed in the summer months.”
  4. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: reptiles, New York. USGS. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (8)
    “Reptiles-Crocodilians Alligatoridae Alligator mississippiensis American alligator Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Freshwater Native Transplant”
    “Reptiles-Turtles Trionychidae Pelodiscus sinensis Chinese softshell Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Freshwater Exotic”
    “Reptiles-Crocodilians Alligatoridae Caiman crocodilus Common Caiman Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Impacts Freshwater Exotic”
    “Reptiles-Turtles Trionychidae Apalone ferox Florida Softshell Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Freshwater Native Transplant”
    “Reptiles-Turtles Emydidae Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii Mississippi Map Turtle Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Freshwater Native Transplant”
    “Reptiles-Turtles Emydidae Pseudemys rubriventris Northern Red-bellied Cooter Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Freshwater Native Transplant”
    “Reptiles-Turtles Emydidae Trachemys scripta elegans Red-eared Slider Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Impacts Freshwater Native Transplant”
    “Reptiles-Turtles Emydidae Trachemys scripta scripta Yellow-bellied Slider Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Freshwater Native Transplant”
  5. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: amphibians, New York. USGS. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Amphibians-Frogs Hylidae Osteopilus septentrionalis Cuban Treefrog Collection info Point Map Species Profile Animated Map Impacts Freshwater Exotic”
  6. Terrestrial Invasive Species. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured October 14, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (3)
    “The Asian longhorned beetle, or ALB, is an invasive wood-boring insect”
    “The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a wood-boring beetle from Asia”
    “Native to Asia, the hemlock woolly adelgid, or HWA, is an invasive, aphid-like insect”
  7. Aquatic Invasive Species. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured July 16, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Round goby is a highly invasive bottom-dwelling fish”
  8. Northern Snakehead. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured October 24, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “It is crucial that we stop the spread of this invasive predator to protect the health of our waters, wildlife and fishing industry.”
  9. Eurasian Boar. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured June 8, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “…invasive Eurasian boar represent a great threat to New York.”
  10. Timber Rattlesnake. NYSDEC. archived copy, captured October 15, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “To report sighting, or ask questions, contact your Regional Wildlife Office”
  11. U.S. Geological Survey. [2026]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [11/3/2026].