Invasive swamp eels found in Fort Myers, experts warn on how to report them

Sandy Guess, a Fort Myers resident, was startled during a casual stroll on her ranch when she encountered an unusual creature close to her home.

"As I got up on it, I realized that's not a snake. And I've lived here my whole life. So, it was kind of crazy," Guess said.

"It was creepy. Yeah, yeah. I've grabbed my dog, and we quickly got away from it because I didn't know if it was poisonous. I didn't know," she said.

The creature turned out to be an Asian swamp eel, a snake-like, air-breathing fish that has been spreading through Florida's waterways.

"It was an eel! And I had no idea anything about them," Guess said.

The state warns that invasive species like the Asian swamp eel are wreaking havoc on Florida's ecosystems.

"Swamp eels pose a serious threat," said Dr. Frank Mazzotti, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida.

Mazzotti explained that these eels are consuming crayfish and small fish, which are essential food sources for wading birds across Florida's shores and the Everglades.

"Those are main food sources for wading birds!" Mazzotti said.

The problem extends beyond the Everglades, as swamp eels can also be found near homes, ponds, and canals around the Gulf Coast.

"Since all of our waterways are interconnected and Asian swamp eels can travel over land, that makes everything vulnerable around the areas where you see them," Mazzotti said.

Last month, another invasive swamp eel was captured at Manatee Park, according to Lee County Government.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says these eels can grow up to nearly three feet long, live about 10 years, and are notoriously difficult to track due to their nocturnal habits and tendency to burrow deep into the mud.

FWC and University of Florida researchers are urging residents to help track these elusive invaders. Reporting sightings online at IveGot1.org could aid efforts to protect Florida's waterways.

"By having people do that, we're learning so much more about their distribution," Mazzotti said.

Asian swamp eels have been in Florida since the late 1990s, and their growing presence is a concern for residents like Guess.

"It's definitely concerning," Guess said.

She emphasized the importance of public awareness to prevent the species from multiplying further.

"People need to educate so they don't continue to multiply," she said.

Residents can report sightings by clicking here.