Brown Tree Snakes Methods and Approaches for Control

Authors

Larry Clark, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Craig S. Clark, USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesFollow
Shane Siers, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Clark, L., C. Clark, and S. Siers. 2018. Brown tree snakes methods and approaches for control. pgs. 107-134. In: W.C. Pitt, J.C. Beasley, and G.W Witmer, editors. Ecology and Management of terrestrial vertebrate invasive species in the United States. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 403 pp.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the existing and emerging tools and strategies for the control of the invasive brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis, or BTS) on Guam and the prevention of its accidental transport to, and subsequent establishment on, other snake-free Pacific islands. The brown tree snake has long served as an example of the ecological and economic damages that can be wrought by a single generalist vertebrate predator upon introduction to ecosystems that evolved in isolation and without native predators (Fritts and Rodda 1998; Wiles et al. 2003; Rodda and Savidge 2007). Our attempt to summarize the state of the art for control technology development and use is not intended to be an exhaustive survey of all the brown tree snake literature. Rather, it is intended to introduce the reader to the main concepts, methods, and strategic management uses of the tools in an effort to control brown tree snakes on the island landscape and interdict their passage at ports. Significant practical advances for brown tree snake control have been made since the first comprehensive summaries were published by Rodda et al. (1999e), and there is great promise for future refinements and broader implementation for control efforts on an islandwide scale.