What are invasive species?

Invasive species are like uninvited guests who take over a party.

Imagine you're having a fun playdate at your house, and all your friends are playing nicely together. Then, suddenly, a group of kids from another neighborhood shows up, they didn’t ask to be there, and they’re really loud and messy. They start taking all the toys, eating all the snacks, and not letting anyone else play. That’s kind of what happens with invasive species.

Invasive species are animals or plants that come from somewhere else, maybe another country or a different part of the world. When they get to a new place, they often don’t have anything trying to stop them. It's like having a superhero who doesn’t know there’s anyone else around.

They can grow really fast and take over the space where other animals or plants live. Sometimes, that makes it hard for those original friends, the native species, to survive.

Think of rats on an island. They didn’t used to be there, but they came in a boat. Now, they eat all the food and make life tough for birds and other animals. That’s invasive species at work!