Your hear about pythons threatening the Everglades, but invasive plants may be more of a threat to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
"Look in the horizon, all those trees don't belong there," said Leroy Rodgers, Chief Invasive Species Biologist for the South Florida Water Management District.
The old-world climbing fern is taking over tree islands in the refuge, which are critical habitats for wildlife.
"Will climb over anything it can climb on," said Rodgers.
Now the district is countering with a full-on assault on the ferns. "Got crews out here they're lined up," said Rodgers.
"District now takes lead on invasive species so in 2017 is when the big push began," said Rory Feeney with the district.
Millions of state and federal dollars are going towards the fight. Crews are out all day chopping the ferns to help restore the refuge.
District leaders say the goal is $5 million annually over five years to fight the invasive ferns.
