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.
Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse football team takes on the North Carolina Tar Heels at 7:30 p.m., Friday in the JMA Wireless Dome.
The game will air on ESPN.
See in-game team and individual stats here.
Note: Refresh this page throughout Syracuse’s game vs. North Carolina to see the latest updates
Pregame
Eight games into the season, Syracuse has had to reopen its quarterback competition. Coach Fran Brown has said he doesn’t go back and forth on quarterbacks. He said he chooses one and sticks to it.
But after losing his first four starts since starting quarterback Steve Angeli went down with a season-ending injury, backup Rickie Collins has forced Brown’s hand.
With multiple quarterbacks poised to take the field Friday night against Bill Belichick and North Carolina, it shows how unsettled Syracuse’s depth chart is.
With Angeli expected to return in 2026 and two incoming quarterback recruits intending to sign with Syracuse, the current quarterbacks have uncertain futures.
Beyond the quarterbacks, Syracuse could use a good showing against the Tar Heels to finally snap a long losing streak. Friday is the Orange’s last game before going on the road for back-to-back games against ranked opponents.
The Orange is also expected to host another large group of recruits.
In its first game as the favored team since Sept. 12, on national television, with a future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach coming to the dome, Friday presents a final chance to gain confidence in what has become a lost season.
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North Carolina
NC State chancellor Kevin Howell’s installment a historic homecoming: ‘He’s a visionary’
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Chancellor Kevin Howell was installed as the 15th leader of N.C. State University. It was a historic moment because the alumnus is the first African American and former student body president to become chancellor.
“We’re here to welcome Kevin Howell back where he belongs. Back to N. C. State University. Back to the Pack,” exclaimed UNC System President Peter Hans.
The installation ceremony was a homecoming celebration for Chancellor Kevin Howell, who is a Shelby, North Carolina native who graduated from N.C. State with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1988.
The day was significant to him because ten years ago, exactly on October 30, 2015, his kidneys failed. The 15th chancellor shares his vision for North Carolina’s flagship university.
“The next generation of leaders can go wherever they want to go and do whatever they want to do,” said Chancellor Howell. “Our vision for the future requires us to unapologetically pursue groundbreaking research. That’s who we are.”
Chancellor Howell sat proudly on stage next to his wife, Aleta. Hundreds were in the crowd, including his two daughters and friends from college.
“We pledged into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated together in the spring of 1985,” said Howell’s line brother Kevin Calhoun. “There were times we were struggling as students, either financially to find money or struggling in coursework. Kevin was always that one that said we can do it. He’s always very hopeful. He’s a visionary and he really does care about people.”
Jesse Lee Brown doesn’t know Howell personally, but they were students on campus together.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be coming back to see him being installed as chancellor,” said Brown.
Chancellor Howell’s installation ceremony brought out many notable N.C. State University alumni, including North Carolina Central University Chancellor Karrie Dixon.
“I’ve known Howell for many years. He has the greatest level of respect across North Carolina and across higher education,” she said.
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A North Carolina man who allegedly confessed to killing four of his children earlier this week appeared to have spread the murders over a period of several months, authorities said on Oct. 29.
Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, was charged with four counts of murder on Oct. 28 and was being held without bond, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said Dickens had called 911 on the night of Oct. 27 and admitted to killing children.
Deputies responded to a residence in Zebulon, a rural town about 25 miles east of Raleigh, and encountered Dickens, who told them that his 3-year-old son was inside the house and that four of his other children were dead inside the trunk of a vehicle in his garage, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Deputies found the 3-year-old boy alive and unharmed in the residence, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators believe Dickens killed three of his biological children — ages 6, 9, and 10 — as well as his 18-year-old stepchild, the sheriff’s office said.
The arrest warrants filed against Dickens indicated that the four children were killed on May 1. But during a news conference on Oct. 29, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said investigators now believe that the children had died in separate incidents over several months.
Bizzell said no motive has been identified, “but as the sheriff, as a father and as a grandfather, I can stand here and say there’s no reason for a father to murder his children.” The sheriff noted that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be filed in the case.
Online court records show that Dickens appeared in court on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 for hearings on the murder counts. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 13, according to court records.
Sheriff: Investigators believe children died between May and September
Bizzell said at the news conference that authorities received a 911 call at around 10:09 p.m. local time Oct. 27 from Dickens, who stated that he had killed four of his children.
Dickens “pretty much called and said, ‘I’m here with my little 3-year-old son. I killed my four children. Their bodies were in the trunk of the car. I’ll be glad to go outside and wait for deputies. I’m not armed. I’m just ready to do what’s right,’” according to Bizzell.
When deputies arrived at the residence, Sheriff’s Capt. Don Pate said they smelled an odor that was “obvious of decay.” Pate added that the home was not well-kept, and there was evidence that someone had attempted to clean up the crime scene.
After responding deputies located Dickens and his 3-year-old son, Bizzell said a preliminary investigation revealed that the human remains found in the vehicle’s trunk had been there “for some time.” The department of social services also respond to the scene and took the 3-year-old boy for medical evaluation, according to Bizzell.
Investigators then obtained a search warrant and determined that Leah Dickens, 6, was the first child to be killed in May of this year, the sheriff said. Bizzell identified the other children as Zoe Dickens, 9, who died in August; Wellington Dickens, 10, who died in late August or early September; and Sean Brasfield, 18, who was killed in September.
The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are assisting the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation. Bizzell added that the state medical examiner’s office was conducting autopsies to determine how the children died.
Children were in ‘conditions that are unimaginable’
Investigators canvased the Dickens’ neighborhood on Oct. 28 and interviewed neighbors, according to Bizzell. Investigators learned that the children had been homeschooled.
“It appeared there wasn’t a lot of activity at the house,” the sheriff said. “I guess the father and the kids were living in the house, and they’re in conditions that are unimaginable.”
Pate said he believed the family was “very secluded” and Dickens’ extended family was not allowed to visit the children.
“They just stayed inside,” according to Pate. “The neighbors said they never saw them come outside, and they were homeschooled, so they were just confined to the house.”
Court records for the estate of Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, show that she died in April 2024, and the couple’s five children continued to live in their Zebulon residence. Jones Dickens had “passed away suddenly at her home,” according to her obituary.
Bizzell confirmed on Oct. 29 that deputies had responded to the couple’s home on April 21, 2024, to assist emergency medical services after Jones Dickens was found dead by her husband. At the time of the incident, Jones Dickens was three months pregnant and had “experienced excessive bleeding the night prior but refused to go for medical treatment,” Bizzell said.
Investigators later determined that Jones Dickens died of complications from a miscarriage, and doctors ruled her death as natural, according to the sheriff. Dickens’ wife died just over a year following his father’s death after his vehicle struck a box truck in Lee County, North Carolina, court records show.
Dickens’ great uncle Charles Moore told WRAL-TV on Oct. 28 that Dickens was an Iraq War veteran and that he last saw Dickens about a year ago. Moore said Dickens “seemed fine” at the time, the television station reported.
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