GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Thursday is the first day of Spring and although it’s beautiful, it can be smelly. The smell is because of Bradford Pear Trees, the white trees that some people say smell like fish. They’re an invasive species and experts say they’re bad for the environment. “They multiply very quickly. They grow very rapidly. They’re a weak wooded tree, so they break easily. Any time we have winds or ice or other types of extreme weather events.