Why are people smuggling ants into the US?
These cuts, implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency, led to layoffs and buyouts within the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which regulates invertebrate smuggling.
Industry sources suggest that these reductions have emboldened ant smugglers, while the process for legal ant sales has become more difficult, contributing to an increase in illicit trade.
Invasive ant species, such as tawny crazy ants and Asian needle ants, pose significant environmental and public health risks, damaging ecosystems, homes, and causing severe stings.
Experts express concern over the reduced infrastructure for detecting and preventing invasive species, although the USDA maintains that its enforcement capabilities have not diminished.
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