William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review
Abstract
Invasive species have long presented an issue across the United States, and continue to do so. They have become more prevalent as the world has become more interconnected. Nonnative species are not always invasive, but many of them are. A somewhat recently introduced invasive species, the spotted lanternfly, has proven to be especially destructive and will put current invasive species laws to the test. The federal government does have some laws on the books regarding invasive species, but much of the legislation and subsequent regulations can be found at the state level. No two states have the same legal and regulatory regimes, and since the spotted lanternfly—as well as several other invasive species— continue to spread, it begs the question of which states (if any) are equipped to handle the scourge of these problematic plants and animals, and which methods prove to be the most effective.