E-Mail to HDOA Return to
Hawaii's |
It feeds on a wide variety of birds, mammals and lizards. Nine species of birds have been wiped out on Guam due to predation by the snake. They also have caused frequent islandwide power outages by climbing utility poles and shorting out electrical lines. This snake represents one of the greatest threats to Hawaii's native species. Since 1981, eight brown tree snakes have been found on Oahu.
To report a sighting of a snake or any illegal animal, please call the Pest Hotline at 586-PEST (7378). |
The Brown
tree snake's (Boiga irregularis) native range is eastern
Indonesia, northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and the
Solomon Islands. It arrived in Guam after World War II,
probably as a stowaway in military cargo. Since the snake
had no natural enemies on Guam, it has attained high
population levels
The Brown Tree Snake Canine Unit was
organized by the State of Hawaii, Department of
Agriculture in 1992, to prevent the introduction of this
destructive snake. Each inspector-handler in the unit is
teamed with one dog, and together, they inspect aircraft
and ships arriving from Guam for the presence of the
brown tree snake.