HOW DO THEY 

GET HERE?

Although some invasive species can slip into the 

United States naturally via wind or ocean currents, 

it’s uncommon. Most get help from human activities, 

entering our country in cargo, mail, and passenger 

baggage. Agricultural produce, nursery stock, 

cut flowers, and timber can harbor these pests, and

invasive species also hitchhike on containers, crates, 

or pallets.

For more information, visit

Invasive species threaten to devour

our crops, trees, and way of life.

Learn how to leave hungry pests behind.

DID YOU 

KNOW?

The cost of invasive species exceeds 

$1 billion annually. Farmers lose crops, 

prices for produce and goods increase, 

and the quarantines imposed on our 

agricultural exports can be devastating. 

Plus, there are cleanup costs associated 

with eradicating these hungry pests.

Invasive species throw our ecosystem 

off balance. These hungry pests feast on 

and infest our agriculture, damage our 

parks and forests, wreck our gardens, 

push out native species, reduce biological 

diversity, and change wildfire frequency 

and intensity. Some pests can even be 

dangerous to human health.

 “WHAT A

 BEAUTIFUL

STATE YOU LIVE IN.

 I COULD JUST

 EAT IT UP!”

“I’M REALLY 

 NOT THE PUSHY 

TYPE. 

 PEOPLE

 HELP ME

GET AROUND 

 ON THE

THINGS THEY

 MOVE AND 

 PACK.”

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Issued April 2012

Slightly revised November 2016

Program Aid No. 2113-NM

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
There are many ways you can help stop the spread of 

invasive species, no matter where you live—and that’s 

by preventing their introduction in the first place.

We can fight back against 

these hungry pests and 

keep them from destroying 

our ecosystems, crops, and 

local plant life.

Buy Local, Burn Local. Invasive pests and 

larvae can hide and ride long distances in 

firewood. Don’t give them a free ride to start 

a new infestation—buy firewood where you’ll 

burn it.

Plant Carefully. Buy your plants from a 

reputable source and avoid using invasive 

plant species at all costs.

Do Not Bring or Mail fresh fruits, vegetables, 

or plants into your State or another State 

unless agricultural inspectors have cleared 

them beforehand.

Cooperate with any agricultural quarantine 

restrictions and allow authorized agricultural 

workers access to your property for pest or 

disease surveys.

Keep It Clean. Wash animals, tires, and gear 

between fishing, hunting, or camping trips. 

Clean lawn furniture when moving it from 

one home to another. 

Learn To Identify. If you see signs of an invasive pest 

or disease, write down or take a picture of what you 

see, and then report it to your local USDA Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) office 

(aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/sphd), State agriculture 

department (nationalplantboard.org/member), or 

local master gardener (nifa.usda.gov/LGU-map). 

Speak Up. Declare all agricultural items to customs 

officials when returning from international travel. 

Call USDA to find out what’s allowed:

• (301) 851-2046 for questions about plants

• (301) 851-3300 for questions about animals

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

HOW ARE WE

AFFECTED?

The plant pests listed above are established in other 

States and, as of 2015, have not been introduced or 

considered widespread in New Mexico. The accidental 

or purposeful importation and subsequent widespread 

establishment of these pests in New Mexico could cause 

significant economic and aesthetic damage to our State’s 

agriculture, parks, landscapes, and forests, and could 

impact agricultural commodity exports. In the case of red 

imported fire ant, widespread establishment could result in 

severe human discomfort.

Invasive pests have the ability to affect New Mexico’s 

agriculture and forestry industries, which have revenue 

valued at over $4 billion annually. Because there’s so much 

at stake, we all need to remain vigilant to prevent these 

pests from getting a foothold in our State.

To learn more about hungry pests and their impacts, visit:

www.HungryPests.com

We are currently at risk for or infested or infected by 

the following:

“WHAT’S THE 

 BIG DEAL?

 DO I LOOK

INVASIVE?”

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN 

NEW MEXICO?

*State-regulated in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and west Texas; not 

federally regulated 

At Risk

• Emerald ash borer (destroys ash trees)

• Pecan weevil* (harms the pecan industry)

• Gypsy moth (threatens forests)

• Japanese beetle (damages turf and ornamentals)

• Red imported fire ant (can inflict painful stings)