Georgia wildlife protection, disease, invasive species & freshwater biodiversity

DNR’s proposed protected-species revision would add 145 species and remove 40, raising the list from 318 to 423; comments close Sept. 20 and a board vote is planned Oct. 27. Long-tailed weasel monitoring, the Altamaha spinymussel rediscovery and new UGA sea-turtle virus research highlight biodiversity work, while severe West Nile illness and the first reported death of 2026 add public-health urgency. Pasture mealybugs, yellow-legged hornets, deer crop losses and the unresolved Radium Springs fish kill remain monitoring concerns.