When was the brown tree snake introduced?
The brown tree snake ( Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam in the late 1940s or early 1950s, probably from the Solomon Islands.
Why is the brown tree snake a problem?
When the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam it caused the local extinction of most of the island’s native bird and lizard species. It also caused “cascading” ecological effects by removing native pollinators, causing the subsequent decline of native plant species.
What is the brown tree snake known for?
Brown tree snakes are voracious predators and scavengers and have few natural enemies. Capable of eating up to 70 percent of their body mass per day, they have been known to consume many different types of small vertebrates as well as carrion.
Where is the brown tree snake native?
The brown treesnake is native to parts of Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Australia. The snake was first sighted on the island of Guam in the 1950s, probably after stowing away on cargo ships coming from New Guinea.
Are brown tree snakes native to Australia?
Brown tree snakes live in northern, eastern and southern Australia (up to the Sydney area). It is also found in Papua New Guinea and north western Melanesia. This snake is infamous for being an invasive species responsible for devastating the majority of the native bird population in Guam.
What do you do if you find a brown tree snake?
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Report any sightings to Mr. Jim Stanford, the Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team Coordinator for the United States Geological Survey. The 24-hr hot line is 671-777-HISS (4477).
Do tree snakes eat bats?
The brown tree snake preys upon birds, lizards, bats, and rats and other small rodents in its native range.
What should you do if you find a brown tree snake?
Where is the brown tree snake originally from?
Where has the brown tree snake invaded?
Guam
Since Guam is a major transportation hub in the Pacific, numerous opportunities exist for the brown tree snakes on Guam to be introduced accidentally to other Pacific islands as passive stowaways in ship and air traffic from Guam….
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Federal Government Series |
How are people trying to stop the brown tree snake?
In the case of the brown treesnake, prevention efforts include working to detect stowaway snakes before they leave the island, as well as extreme vigilance on islands where the snakes are most likely to invade.
Where did the brown tree snake originally come from?
Brown tree snakes come from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and both the northern and eastern regions of Australia. As a mishap, brown tree snakes were also brought into Guam, which is a United States remote island territory. They got onto the island through cargo ships.
Why was the brown tree snake introduced?
The brown tree snake Boiga irregularis provides a startling example of the negative effects invasive species can have on indigenous fauna. The brown tree snake, which is native to Papua New Guinea , was accidentally introduced to Guam in the 1940s through U.S. military transports after World War II.
Why were brown tree snakes introduced?
When the brown tree snake ( Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam it caused the local extinction of most of the island’s native bird and lizard species. It also caused “cascading” ecological effects by removing native pollinators, causing the subsequent decline of native plant species.
What is the habitat of a brown tree snake?
Native habitat. The brown tree snake is native to coastal Australia, Papua New Guinea, and a large number of islands in northwestern Melanesia. The species occurs on variably sized islands, extending from Sulawesi in eastern Indonesia through Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and into the wettest coastal areas of Northern Australia.