North Carolina
From giant crabs to toxic snails, a look at invasive species that made news in NC last year
They aren’t supposed to be here, but they are now marching across N.C. A look at invasive species that made news in the Tar Heel State last year
It might be a new year, but for North Carolina’s environment there are many of the same problems from species that shouldn’t be here or have been drawn to the Tar Heel State by our warming weather thanks to climate change.
Some might be considered cute, others pests by most. But what they share in common is the real or potential impact they can have on native species that often aren’t equipped to deal with the interlopers.
From phragmites to fire ants to kudzu, some of these non-natives have been here long enough that they have become established in our ecosystems and are too widespread and adapted to be wiped out.
But others are just getting their foothold in the Tar Heel State. And while North Carolina isn’t usually their first landing spot in the U.S., research and experiences in those other locations offer a vision of what impacts we can expect.
Here’s a quick look back at some of the invasives that made news last year, whether as new arrivals or because of their continuing spread across the state.
Toxic snails
In October, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced that a snail native to South America had been discovered in the Lumber River.
The Apple snail, which can grow to an impressive 6 inches in size, are considered dangerous to both wildlife and humans. Their grazing habits can damage plants that many native aquatic species rely on, and they have also been found grazing on some amphibian eggs, according to the wildlife commission. They also pose threats to humans because of their potential to carry parasites like rat lungworm, which can cause deadly illness in people if the snails are consumed raw or undercooked. Their eggs carry a toxin, too, which can cause skin and eye rashes.
Like some of the most problematic non-native species, the snail also is prodigious breeder. Adult females lay eggs in striking bright pink clusters as frequently as once per week, and, often thousands of individual eggs are found at a time.
The discovery of the invasive species was the first time the snail had been spotted in North Carolina, but officials fear it won’t be the last. The Lumber River basin extends into Columbus County and South Carolina, and the snail already has established itself in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and Florida, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Big, like really big crabs!
Imagine a fiddler crab on steriods and you get the idea of the size of the blue land crab.
And like many species that are big, colorful or unusual in some way, the giant crab isn’t supposed to be in North Carolina.
But in summer 2023 they were spotted for the first time on Emerald Isle in Carteret County. How they got there remains a mystery.
Blue land crabs are native from Brazil to south Florida, and their bodies can grow as large as 6 inches. Occasional sightings have been reported along Georgia and South Carolina beaches in past decades, but never in North Carolina until last year.
As big as a good-sized coconut or cantaloupe when counting the breadth of its legs and claws, cardisoma guanhumi is hard to miss as it scuttles along coastal areas. That might make you think they are easy to catch. But they are fast, and their burrows are deep and extensive. Oh, and then there’s that big claw that it doesn’t mind using to defend itself.
Unlike its smaller cousin, the native blue crab, the blue land crab is a vegetarian, grabbing fresh plant shoots, fruits and crops that are found near coastal waters before retreating to its burrow. Although there have been reports of the crabs feeding on animal carcasses and practicing cannibalism, these actions are thought to be rare.
That has researchers not too worried about what direct impacts, aside from creating big holes that could pose a danger to humans and animals, the big crabs might have on the environment. But, they added, there’s always the concern of what other bugs or parasites might have hitched a ride up the coast on the crabs and is now impacting local flora and fauna.
PHOTOS: Blue land crabs in North Carolina
Tree-killing bug
There’s nothing good to say about this invasive insect that leaves millions of dead ash trees in its wake, and now there’s little to stop it from reaching the Wilmington area − if it’s not already here.
The emerald ash borer is a strikingly beautiful member of the insect family. Native to Asia, the pest was first spotted in the U.S. near Detroit in 2002. The bug likely hitched a ride over the Pacific in wood-packing material carried by ships or planes.
Jump forward a decade, and the bug was first spotted in North Carolina in Granville County north of Durham. As of last year the invasive insect had been found in 71 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, most recently in Craven, Hertford, Cumberland and Lee counties.
And it’s still spreading.
The mature beetle, which is about half-inch long, isn’t the tree killer, but its larvae is. Adult borers lay their eggs on the bark of ash trees. When the eggs hatch, the larvae bore into the bark and feed on the tree’s transportation tissue. What follows is a slow, top-down death for the ash tree, as first the crown of the tree is starved of water and nutrients and then the rest of the tree − a process that can take up to five years.
While the bug can fly, researchers say human transport of infected wood is the primary way the borer spreads. Oh, and just for good measure, the insect also use waterways to travel, since many ash trees are found around rivers and wetlands. Infected trees in Cumberland and Bladen counties were discovered along the banks of the Cape Fear River.
With more than 250 million ash trees in North Carolina, the borer has plenty to eat. Active ways to stop the beetle’s spread are few, with researchers around the country − including at N.C. State University − looking into using biological controls from the ash borer’s home turf in Asia, including tiny wasps that feed on the bug’s larvae.
And while treatment is possible, the process is expensive and has to be done repeatedly to protect the trees.
COMING SOON TO WILMINGTON: Invasive pest that has decimated millions of NC ash trees
Armored possums
If you haven’t seen a nine-banded armadillo − yes, an armadillo − in North Carolina, it’s likely only a matter of time.
Since 2007, the little mammal has been expanding its range across the Tar Heel State. A bit unusually, the armadillo’s invasion began in Western N.C., and it only fairly recently began popping up in the Piedmont and along the Coastal Plain.
While researchers are still gathering information, armadillos don’t appear to be causing the widespread ecological problem that other non-native and invasive species can cause when they show up in a new environment. But gardeners and landscapers might disagree, noting that the burrowing animals can leave a mess of holes on lawns and in gardens as they hunt for insects.
Armadillos, a bit like opossums, wouldn’t win a beauty pageant in the animal world. They are equipped with long ears, a pig-like snout and a scaly tail. They also has poor eyesight, but a great sense of smell.
But the mostly nocturnal critters are adaptable, which has helped them navigate across North Carolina. Since the first sighting in 2007, the wildlife commission has received nearly 900 reports of nine-banded armadillo sightings in 70 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, with nearly 30 counties − stretching from Cherokee to Dare counties − having confirmed observations. Observations, which are increasing year over year, also have been reported in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.
ON THE MOVE: How climate change and population growth are helping armadillos move into more areas of NC
Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.
North Carolina
NC woman detained while at work in Raleigh moved to Georgia facility to await hearing
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A Wake County woman, detained by immigration officials earlier this week, will face a judge in Georgia next week.
Border Patrol agents detained Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio on Tuesday at a job site in Raleigh.
Her family says she has been held at a facility in Lumpkin, GA, and will face a judge on Tuesday to find out if she can be released on bond.
Gene Smith is the boyfriend of Velazquez-Antonio’s aunt. He says the family has been heartbroken since she was detained.
“The main question is, is she coming home? That’s the million-dollar question,” he said.
Smith says the 23-year-old came to the U.S. from Honduras as an unaccompanied minor at 14 and was granted asylum.
“She’s a good kid. She works hard. She loves her family. She loves her nieces and nephews without having kids of her own,” he said.
The Corinth Holders High School graduate came to the U.S. after losing her mom to cancer and her father to gang violence.
Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio
Ashley Lively is representing Velazquez-Antonio. Lively says Velazquez-Antonio has no criminal history aside from minor traffic violations and had no warrant out for her arrest prior to being detained.
Lively also says Velazquez-Antonio has a valid working permit, a social security number, and has not missed any prior interviews or hearings with the Department of Homeland Security.
“She had the right to remain in the United States while her case was being adjudicated. She did not have any sort of legal, permanent immigration status,” said Lively. “She had done everything right and was just waiting for her case to be adjudicated.”
Velazquez-Antonio’s case is now catching the attention of local elected leaders, including those in Washington, D.C.
Wendell Town Commissioner Deans Eatman posted on Facebook, saying in part, “Fatima deserves answers. Her family deserves answers.”
Rep. Deborah Ross is now looking into Velazquez-Antonio’s case.
A spokeswoman for her office told Eyewitness News, “Our office has been in touch with the lawyer representing Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio to better understand the case and if there is any support and assistance we can offer.”
“I’m deeply concerned by some of the reports I’ve seen about CBP detaining Wake County residents, including a teenager,” said Rep. Ross. “I will work with state and local partners to protect our residents from violations of their rights by federal immigration officers.”
Smith says the family just hopes to see her again soon.
“She cares about family and she loves the United States. She wants to stay and I hope that she will be allowed to,” he said.
Eyewitness News reached out to DHS for answers as to why Velazquez-Antonio was detained and what her current condition is.
DHS has not responded with details.
Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App
Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Lars Prentice Johnson (Cherokee County, NC Sheriff’s Office)
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. – A Cherokee County jury has convicted a Peachtree Community man in what officials call the largest methamphetamine case in the county’s history.
What we know:
Jurors found 53-year-old Lars Prentice Johnson guilty on November 20 of high-level manufacturing of methamphetamine, trafficking by possessing methamphetamine, and trafficking by manufacturing methamphetamine. A judge sentenced him to 225 months in state prison.
The convictions stem from a July 2022 search warrant served at a home on Daylily Drive in Marble. Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said they found about 38 pounds of methamphetamine along with a conversion laboratory used to manufacture the drug.
Investigators said Johnson was one of several defendants charged in the case. At the time of his arrest, he was already on probation in Georgia for trafficking methamphetamine.
What we don’t know:
Authorities have not released information about the other defendants charged in the case.
It is unclear whether additional arrests or sentences are expected.
Investigators have not said how long the conversion laboratory had been operating or whether the drugs were linked to a larger distribution network.
The Source: The details in this article comes from the Cherokee County, NC Sheriff’s Office.
This story is published through our partnership with NOTUS.
When the Department of Government Efficiency started slashing federal grants, North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District was the hardest hit in the country.
The solidly Democratic district in the Raleigh-Durham area is home to two tier-one research universities, 11,000 federal workers, and the largest research park in the country. As of May 2025, when Elon Musk left DOGE, the district had lost 186 federal grants, according to a tracker from the Center for American Progress.
The area is still reeling from the millions in lost federal funds. And those impacted said the cuts could play a role in the midterms, especially with the state home to one of the most closely watched Senate races of 2026.
“If you care about North Carolina as a purple state and as a state that could swing presidential elections, the House makeup, and the Senate makeup, these conversations that we’re having about the people who have lost their jobs are going to be economic stories,” said Brianna Clarke-Schwelm, executive director of the North Carolina Global Health Alliance. “Next year, people aren’t necessarily going to be talking about was it USAID or was it some other federal institution. They’re going to be talking about how many people don’t have jobs.”
Democrats in Virginia specifically cited the chaos surrounding DOGE cuts as one reason they did so well in November, as did labor unions who told NOTUS they saw increased engagement during the off-year election cycle.
It’s unlikely that DOGE cuts in North Carolina will be as salient an issue as they were in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, but they may be another reason voters are growing dissatisfied with Trump, said Thomas Mills, a former Democratic political consultant and election watcher in the state.
“You’re going to have motivated Democrats who are the people that are getting impacted by these—they are going to come out,” Mills said. “The biggest single driver of Democratic turnout is going to be Donald Trump and his policies.”
Rep. Valerie Foushee, who represents North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, said she doesn’t think the administration’s claim, that is rooting out waste and fraud, will land well in her district.
“You’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist, and in so doing, you’re creating a bigger problem by way of taking away people’s jobs, taking away people’s livelihoods and destroying local economies, even as you are destroying the national economy,” she told NOTUS.
RTI International, an independent scientific research institute in the Research Triangle Park, bore the brunt of the cuts, according to a report by Harris Search Associates, a consultancy for the higher education and research sectors. The firm’s report found that DOGE cuts cost RTI about $1 billion and forced the company to lay off one-third of its workforce.
Most of the grants stripped from RTI International came from the now-dismantled United States Agency for International Development. Others came from NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health.
“RTI is proud to partner with the current Administration in scientific and technical areas that are aligned with our mission,” Tim J. Gabel, president and CEO at RTI International, told NOTUS in an emailed statement.
“You’re going to have motivated Democrats who are the people that are getting impacted by these—they are going to come out.”
Thomas Mills, former Democratic political consultant
He said that RTI is actively changing its business.
“This means expanding beyond our traditional federal portfolio into high-growth commercial sectors such as health, energy, and food/agriculture,” Gabel said.
The administration’s decision to shutter USAID had direct impacts in the battleground state.
North Carolina is the fourth-highest recipient of USAID awards, according to the NC Global Health Alliance. The state received 153 active awards across 15 organizations from the agency. Nine of those went to the 4th District. Since January, North Carolina institutions have lost $3 billion in future USAID-funded awards.
“That was a massive hit to our institutions. We have major implementing partners here that employed thousands of people and impacted millions of lives around the world,” said Clarke-Schwelm.
FHI 360, a global health nonprofit in the Research Triangle Park, lost about half its revenue and laid off more than a quarter of its workforce, including 144 workers in North Carolina, after Trump dismantled USAID.
The alliance estimates that at least 625 North Carolinians lost their jobs due to the cuts.
Leonardo Williams, the Democratic mayor of Durham, called DOGE cuts a “self-inflicted wound.” He said that he’s never seen more middle-class people apply for unemployment.
“They’re basically not only dismantling some of these companies, they’re dismantling households. That’s what I see at the ground level in District 4,” he said. “I see less people shopping at the grocery stores. I see less people opting in to have their child at daycare. I see more daycares closing.”
He said voters in Durham and District 4 will consider Trump’s push to downsize government and promote fiscal responsibility, led by billionaire Elon Musk, to be “out of touch.”
“I think people are going to remember that in the midterms. I’m damn going to do my part to make sure they know about it,” Williams said.
The campaign arm for Senate Republicans, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, did not respond to a request for comment.
Universities also suffered cuts to their operations. University of North Carolina atChapel Hill has lost $38.4 million in federal grants since Trump took office, reported The Daily Tar Heel. Most of those awards came from the National Institutes of Health. At Duke University, the federal government terminated or froze more than $135 million in grants.
Mills said that Republicans may struggle to convince voters that blocking money from flowing into the state and downsizing the federal workforce will benefit them.
“A lot of this new populist Republican base is going to be motivated by things that the government can do for them, and that’s not historically where Republicans have been,” Mills said. “It makes it difficult to say, ‘We cut the size of the government, and somehow it benefited you.’”
Christa Dutton is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.
Can you cheat your way to fitness? Here’s what the experts say
1985 Movie Reviews – Bad Medicine, King Solomon’s Mines, and One Magic Christmas | The Nerdy
Trump officials’ meeting with Russian in Miami spurs questions about latest Ukraine proposal
Video: In Charlotte, Border Patrol Arrests Send Families Into Hiding
Purple Peel for Weight Loss Is Going Viral, but Does It Actually Work?
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Video: In Charlotte, Border Patrol Arrests Send Families Into Hiding
GOP Senate hopeful reveals how Dems are making America ‘weaker’ in viral video ahead of Thanksgiving
Brazil’s Bolsonaro arrested days before start of 27-year prison sentence
Marjorie Taylor Greene could have led the anti-Trump resistance but the mob boss got his way
Sen. John Fetterman accuses Trump of ‘dangerous rhetoric’
-
Business1 week agoDeveloper plans to add a hotel and hundreds of residences to L.A. Live
-
Business5 days agoFire survivors can use this new portal to rebuild faster and save money
-
World1 week agoVideo: Russia’s First A.I. Humanoid Robot Crashes Into the Tech Scene
-
Politics1 week agoMajor Pentagon contractor executive caught in child sex sting operation
-
World4 days agoFrance and Germany support simplification push for digital rules
-
Technology1 week agoAI-powered scams target kids while parents stay silent
-
News5 days agoCourt documents shed light on Indiana shooting that sparked stand-your-ground debate
-
World1 week ago2% of Russian global oil supply affected following Ukrainian attack