Are all exotic species harmful?
No, not all exotic species are considered harmful. Non-native plants are fundamental to our lifestyle – most of our food crops, such as potatoes and wheat, are not native to the United States. Invasive species, however, are exotic organisms that have gone beyond being useful and have become harmful. A species is not usually recognized as invasive until it causes some sort of harm or cost to the ecology, economy, or to human health. Attempts to plant kudzu as a forage crop and an ornamental plant and attempts to develop a nutria population for fur harvest, for example, both backfired and have now become invasive species problems. There are some benefits to all species – but invasive species do more harm than good.
