Brown tree snakes: A primer

[B]By EMMA MCCULLOUGH-STEARNS[/B] [I]SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, 10TH GRADE[/I]

The brown tree snake is an invasive species that was introduced to Guam shortly after the end of World War II. The brown tree snake has had a devastating effect on Guam’s bird and reptile life, and it has caused numerous problems with Guam’s power system. Millions of dollars have been spent trying to prevent the spread of the brown tree snake to other Pacific islands.

It is believed that a pregnant brown tree snake was transported from the Solomon Islands to Guam along with sea cargo shipments after World War II. After the shipment arrived on Guam, it is thought that the snake escaped and laid her eggs. Slowly the brown tree snake population began to spread and by 1985, about 40 years after they were first introduced, brown tree snake were found all over Guam. About that same time, residents of Guam began noticing things happening to their chickens, puppies, birds and other small animals. Biologists and other people began noticing that the native bird population was decreasing severely. Many types of small animals were disappearing, and it wasn’t clear why. Many people thought it had something to do with the snakes, but most biologists were convinced that it was some sort of disease affecting the animals. One biologist, Julie Savidge, became certain that the problem was the brown tree snake. It took her about four years to convince the other biologists that it was in fact the snakes causing the problems, and not a disease.

In 1989, approximately $30,000 was given to help with the snake problem and now approximately $6.4 million is divided up between Saipan, Hawaii and the Federated States of Micronesia for brown tree snake control. This money has been spent buying and maintaining snake traps, educating the public, training dogs and people. There are currently more than 500 brown tree snake traps in the CNMI, located primarily at the airports and marinas, but so far no snakes have been captured in a CNMI trap. Each trap has to be checked weekly to replace the bait, which is usually a live mouse, as well as to check if any snakes have been caught.

Another portion of the money has been used to train dogs to detect brown tree snakes. These dogs are used in searching for brown tree snakes at the seaports and airports. The dogs must be re-trained weekly in order for them to remember what they are looking for. The dogs are also trained to sniff out turtles, coconut crabs, and fruit bats so the dogs won’t get bored. Saipan has five of the specially trained dogs and Tinian has one. Public education has also been a main part of brown tree snake control. There have been frequent presentations at schools designed to educate the public about the brown tree snake problem.

In conclusion, it is very important to try and prevent the introduction of brown tree snakes into Saipan and other Pacific islands in order to protect the bird life, especially the endangered species. It is also important to prevent power outages and to protect the residents of these islands.

If you see a brown tree snake, kill it and then call 28-SNAKE (287-6253) for further assistance. “Don’t Give Snakes a Break!”

[I]Note: The Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Brown Tree Snake Program presented information for Saipan International School. Next week, you will hear from Harrison Smith about the Brown Tree Snake program.[/I]