Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
March 2002
Abstract
Accidentally introduced to Guam in the late 1940s or early 1950s, the brown tree snake (BTS) has caused extensive economic and ecological damage to the island. In just half a century, the snake has exterminated most of Guam’s native forest birds and greatly reduced its population of fruit bats and native lizards. Unlike regions where the BTS is indigenous, Guam has no natural means to keep the species’ population in check. An abundant food supply and the lack of local competitors and predators have allowed the BTS to reach a population density among the highest ever recorded for any snake. The BTS population on Guam has grown so large that snakes coming into contact with power lines have caused more than 1,000 electrical outages, costing taxpayers millions of dollars and inconveniencing residents.
Comments
United States Department of Agriculture