By Gia Miller
Artwork by Jack Coffey
They’re not bank robbers or escaped fugitives, but these introduced species have invaded our land and certainly earned a spot on Westchester’s Most Wanted list. From fast-spreading plants to destructive insects and disruptive mammals, each poses a unique threat to the landscapes and wildlife that make our region special.
1. Porcelain Berry
A fast-growing vine that smothers native plants, blocks sunlight and can cause tree dieback.
2. Yellow Flag Iris
This wetland invader crowds out native plants and degrades wildlife habitat.
3. Wineberry
A thorny shrub that spreads rapidly, outcompeting native understory plants.
Mute Swan
This orange-billed giant uproots massive amounts of aquatic vegetation and drives away native waterfowl.
Northern Snakehead
An air-breathing apex predator that can survive briefly on land, this fish consumes nearly anything in its path.
1. Asian Longhorned Beetle
This destructive beetle attacks and kills healthy hardwoods, especially maples.
2. Emerald Ash Borer
A metallic green beetle that has decimated ash trees across our region.
3. Spotted Lanternfly
This “celebrity” pest leaves behind a sticky residue that fuels black sooty mold, damaging and killing host plants.
European Starling
Introduced in the 1890s by a man determined to bring every bird mentioned by Shakespeare to America, starlings now outcompete native bluebirds and woodpeckers for nesting sites.
This article was published in the July/August 2026 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Jack Coffey
Jack Coffey is a recent graduate of Purchase College, where he earned a bachelor of fine arts in graphic design. He also has experience in directing, editing, and sound design, with a current focus on type design, including his signature typeface, Coffey. When he isn’t designing or collaborating with other creatives, he watches films, collects vinyl records, and always starts his day off with a black cup of coffee.
