Throughout history, humans have introduced various animal species to the United States for a variety of purposes, such as agriculture, companionship, recreation, and pest control.
Some of these introduced animals have thrived and become established in their new habitats, while others have had unintended ecological and environmental consequences.
Here are a few examples of animals that were brought to the USA by people.
European Honeybees
European honeybees were introduced to North America by European settlers for honey production and pollination of crops.
They have become an essential part of agriculture and contribute to pollinating many crops, although they have also had an impact on native bee populations.
House Sparrows
House sparrows were introduced to North America in the 19th century from Europe.
They were brought over to help control insect pests, but their aggressive nature and competition for nesting sites have had negative impacts on native bird species.
Starlings
European starlings were introduced to Central Park in New York City in the late 1800s by a group that wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare to North America.
Starlings have since spread across the continent and compete with native birds for resources.
Domestic Cats
Domestic cats were brought to North America by European settlers for pest control on ships and in settlements.
However, free-ranging domestic cats have become a major threat to native bird and small mammal populations.
