Record-setting Burmese python captured in Miami-Dade Co. (May 20, 2013)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A Miami man has caught and killed the longest Burmese python ever captured in Florida: 18 feet, 8 inches. The Burmese python is an invasive species that has negative impacts on the Everglades ecosystem and its native wildlife. The public is asked to report sightings of exotic species to IveGot1.org or 888-IveGot1. There is also a free smartphone app: IVEGOT1.

USDA and EPA Release New Report on Honey Bee Health (May 2, 2013)
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA and the EPA released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. See ARS information on Honey Bee Health and Bee Informed Partnership information for Preliminary Results: Honeybee Colony Losses in the U.S., Winter 2012-2013.

Feral Swine: Ripping and Rooting Their Way across America (Apr 30, 2013)
USDA. Blog.
Feral swine have been called the "rototillers" of nature. Their longs snouts and tusks allow them to rip and root their way across America in search of food.  Unfortunately, the path they leave behind impacts ranchers, farmers, land managers, conservationists, and suburbanites alike. April, Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month, is a great time to learn about this serious threat to both plant and animal health. Learn more from USDA's Public Education Initiative.

Discovering Species - Just a Click Away: The USGS makes finding the locations (and more) of U.S. species a lot easier with the new digital resource - BISON (Apr 18, 2013)
DOI. United States Geological Survey.
Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation or BISON is the only system of its kind; a unique, web-based Federal resource for finding species in the U.S. and territories. Its size is unprecedented, offering more than 100 million mapped records of nearly every living species nationwide and growing. And the vast majority of the records are specific locations, not just county or state records.

Earth Day -- Apr 22, 2013: The Face of Climate Change
Earth Day Network.
Earth Day Network is partnered with National Environmental Education Week (Apr 14-20, 2013), which annually promotes understanding and protection of the natural world by actively engaging K-12 students and educators of all environmental subjects. See Earth Day 2013 Resources to help you participate in Earth Day 2013 and also see What You Can Do to help control invasive species.

Scientists Stress Need for National Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (Apr 11, 2013)
University of Florida.
With ocean life facing unprecedented threat from climate change, overfishing, pollution, invasive species and habitat destruction, a University of Florida researcher is helping coordinate national efforts to monitor marine biodiversity.

When Traveling, Bring Back Fun Memories-Not Invasive Pests! (Apr 9, 2013)
USDA. Blog.
While traveling, protect our country from invasive plant pests and diseases to help keep our agriculture and forests safe. Learn and prepare in advance of your travels what you can or cannot bring back from a country you visit.

USDA Dedicates April to Increasing Awareness on How to Stop Invasive Pests from Spreading (Apr 2, 2013)
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
All month, APHIS will highlight how invasive species can enter the U.S. and spread, and how the general public can take simple, specific actions to leave these hungry pests behind. Invasive pests and diseases are non-native species that cause - or are likely to cause - harm to the economy, the environment or human health. See Hungry Pests site to learn more about invasive pests and diseases.