The Pyrenean Climate Change Observatory (OPCC) highlights the American mink and the Asian…

The Pyrenean Climate Change Observatory (OPCC) highlights the American mink and the Asian hornet as the most concerning exotic species in the Pyrenees. In Aragón, their trends differ: the mink is retreating after years of trapping, while the hornet has spread from the Pyrenees down to Bajo Aragón. This warning is part of the OPCC's July 23, 2026 report within the LIFE Pyrenees4Clima project, involving 47 partners until 2031. The report reviews glaciers, mountain lakes, and ice caves, and includes invasive species such as the tree of heaven and the box tree moth, which arrived from Asia in 2014. Over 650 exotic species have been identified, mostly plants, with their presence increasing exponentially since 1980, especially in valleys and along roads.