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Why do many invasives come from Asia? Asia is a big place (lots of different animals to start with) and they are on the same latitude with us (pre-adapted to our climate). Also, we have a lot of trade with Asia, so there is a lot of chance for the things to come over in ballast water, or hiding in with whatever shoes and toys and food that we bring in. Also, in the last hundred years or less, there have been a large number of Asian people coming over, and they want the foods that they are used to in Asia. Many of the plants (almost most of small flowering plants around here)and animals (horses,razorback pigs, rats, house mice)that we are used to came over from Europe a lot earlier. It doesn't mean that there haven't been negative consequences, it is just that the system and the people have adapted to the new set of circumstances, and we don't remember or know what it would have been like before. If rats had just come in recently, we'd be going crazy figuring out what to do. maybe in 100 years, Asian carp will be the favorite sport fish and commercial fish in our rivers. But that would be a sad thing, because most people who know the difference would much rather catch a flathead catfish or a paddlefish.