FORT identifies cargo stowaway as invasive brown treesnake

Photograph of a Brown Treesnake descending from a tree.

An invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis), a highly destructive species in places where it is not native, survived a 3-month journey in a shipping container from Guam to a military installation in southeastern Oklahoma. Quick action by personnel at the McAlester Ammunition Plant, who immediately caught and killed the snake, prevented its escape. They reported the incident to the USGS Brown Treesnake Hotline, then shipped the snake to the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT), where scientist Gordon Rodda positively identified it as a brown treesnake. Since its accidental introduction to Guam in the 1950's, this snake has been responsible for the extirpation of most of Guam's native bird species, as well as bats and lizards. Snakes crawling on electrical lines cause frequent power outages around the island, averaging $1 million per year in damage. To manage the risk of invasion by brown treesnakes, federal, state, and regional agencies, as well as the U.S. military and island governments, are involved in substantial cooperative efforts to prevent snakes on Guam from being transported to and becoming established in other locations. The USGS operates a brown treesnake research lab on the island to develop and test prevention and containment methods. USGS personnel also lead the interagency Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team, which responds to snake sightings in the Pacific region to prevent incursions onto other islands.

For more information contact: Gordon Rodda

FORT identifies cargo stowaway as invasive brown treesnake

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