'Unsolicited' mysterious seed packages sparks concerns

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has sounded alarms regarding "unsolicited seed packages" showing up delivered at Texans doorsteps.

The actual sender of the packages is currently unknown, but many of these packages have been delivered from China, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The specifics regarding the contents of such packages are also being investigated, as well as the reasoning behind why these packages are being delivered.

"It concerns me that no one ordered these seeds," Miller said. "I'm encouraging people to not open these packages."

Miller emphasized if you or someone you know has received such a package, contact TDA immediately at (800) TELL-TDA. The contents of such packages will be destroyed at no cost to the recipient through "steam sterilization."

"The immediate threat is to have invasive species come in, plant diseases or pests that come in with this product. Secondary, [it] could be some kind of biohazard," Miller said. "We want to make sure that they don't get planted and start out in our landscape and destroy our agriculture industry."

The impact of invasive species

"An invasive species is one that does economic or environmental harm," said Dr. Ed Edward LeBurn, a UT research scientist within the Invasive Species Research Group at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory.

LeBurn specializes in researching ants. He noted fire ants being a significant problem when they were first brought into the U.S.

"They are from South America, and they were brought unintentionally in ship ballast," LeBurn said. "In spreading they eliminated native fire ants."

"They interact with people more often and so one medical consequence is that a small fraction of people are deadly allergic to their stings," LeBurn said.

To avoid such issues, LeBurn emphasized the importance of being mindful for regulating what comes in and out of the country, as the consequences are "large and shared by everybody."

These concerns were also echoed by Sean Griffin, the Director of Science & Conservation at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

"The ones that are able to become invasive are often the ones that grow really quickly," Griffen said. They're the ones that may not have any natural predators or herbivores in the area that they've spread to."

However, when it came to analyzing the seeds, Griffen mentioned not to worry too much just yet.

"A few seeds — while it's something we need to look into and be aware of — probably is not a concern in comparison to all the other sources of non-native organisms that happen all the time," Griffen said.

Miller, on the other hand, still warns to be precaution, with many details still unknown.

"Those packages could have the next COVID virus in it," Miller said. "It could have fentanyl, it could have anthrax, cholera, smallpox — who knows what could be in there."

Miller also mentioned such instances of these seed packages showing up has also happened in Florida and Washington State.

"I've notified the White House, intergovernmental relations, Homeland Security," Miller said. "We're working to make sure this this doesn't get out of hand and stay on top of it."