Phone App to Put Clampdown on Invasive Species

It's snowbird season, but that's not the only visitor to Florida.

Exotic plants and animals cause an estimated $500 million in crop damage and costs in eradication methods according to Florida wildlife experts.

Floridians and its nearly 85 million visitors can report Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, burmese pythons and other invasive and exotic plants and wildlife that cause this damage to Florida officials from their smart phone using the free IveGot1 app.

"By reporting sightings of invasive animals and plants, we can better assess the extent of the infestations and hopefully eradicate new infestations before they become huge problems such as melaleuca or Burmese pythons," the app description states.

The University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health developed the app.

Users can take a picture of the exotic and their location and image is uploaded to an online map tracking invasive species. The information is also sent to state and local wildlife officials.