GSMNP asks visitors to help track invasive parachuting spiders in the Smokies

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is asking visitors to help them track down an invasive parachuting spider that was first spotted in Cades Cove last year.

On Thursday, the park asked the public for help finding Joro spiders that have been spotted in the park since last fall. Primarily, the spiders have been seen in and around Cades Cove.

The species is a large orb-weaver spider originally from East Asia that was first introduced in Georgia and has been spreading north. Although the species is striking to see, it has also been noted that as the species moves into an area, populations of native orb weavers have been shown to quickly decline because of competition. • The Joro spider is shown. (Provided by Clemson University) • The joro spider, a large s