Florida Invasive Animal Task Team (FIATT)

The Florida Invasive Animal Task Team (FIATT) was established by the South Florida Ecosystem Working Group in 2004 (the U.S. Congress established the intergovernmental South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force in 1996 to coordinate the restoration of the Everglades).  FIATT helps organize, coordinate, and plan for invasive non-native animal issues of interest to the Restoration Initiative and serves in an advisory capacity to member organizations and institutions.  The FIATT membership is comprised of federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and institutions that are part of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and it’s Working Group.

Link: South Florida Ecosystem Working Group

Recent FIATT Meeting:

FIATT met in late August 2006  to review invasive animal species lists compiled from natural resource managers in Florida and to decide on a "species of special concern" list for each invasive animal taxon (e.g., mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.).  After much discussion, a list was developed.  This list (below) will aid in prioritizing invasive species by taxa to determine which species are the most problematic in terms of ecosystem impacts, disease transmission, management/control capability, or rapid response candidates.

FIATT Invasive Animal Species of Special Concern [PDF 29K]

New and Hot Topics:

• FWC Purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) cursory survey information [PDF 241 K]
• FWC Purple swamphen Survey form [Excel file]
• Invasive mussel alert - Mytella charruana found in Indian River Lagoon [PDF 630 K]
• Eradication of introduced carnivorous lizards from Southwest Florida [PDF 2MB]
• Channeled apple snails
• Avian influenza (DACS Division of Animal Industry)