Pest Alert
Stop the Spread of the Brown Tree Snake

Description

Origin: Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Australia

Color: Olive brown to yellow brown; may have faint banding

Length: Typically 2 to 3 ft but can reach more than 10 ft.

Habits: Lives in trees and shrubs. Nocturnal: seldom seen during the day. Moves out of the trees while foraging for food. Has grooved, venom-conducting teeth at the rear of the mouth.

The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is an alien species to Guam. An aggressive predator, it has caused the extinction of nearly all of Guam's native bird species. The brown tree snake eats poultry, eggs, and pets. It has extraordinary climbing abilities and causes costly electrical power outages by climbing on power lines. The brown tree snake is mildly venomous: its bite can injure or even kill infants and young children.

Seven brown tree snakes have been found at port facilities on Oahu, Hawaii. If this species becomes established in Hawaii or other Pacific Islands, it will cause ecological and economic disaster.

Beware of snakes stowed away in vehicles, shipping containers and boxes, cargo, building supplies, military supplies, and equipment.

What To Do

In Hawaii

Immobilize the snake; then contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Branch:

(808) 586-PEST

On Guam

Immobilize the snake; then contact one of the Wildlife Services offices below:

Andersen AFB (671) 366-3261

Barrigada Heights (671) 635-4400

Naval Station Guam (671) 564-3900

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal employment opportunity employer.

APHIS 11-45-002

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

U.S. Department of Defense

Issued January 1996
Slightly revised May 1998f