Snakes on a Plane!

Hopefully not. Or anywhere else on the Hawaiian Islands for that matter. The fear of snakes making it to Hawaii and escaping to establish breeding populations is very real. In particular, the locals fear the brown tree snake. It’s a relatively normal sized snake that lives in trees, and is from a family of venomous snakes. It’s native to Australia and much of the Indonesian Islands. Though it’s aggressive, it is not particularly dangerous to humans.

So why are all snakes, and the brown tree snake in particular, so feared in Hawaii? The brown tree snake is infamous for the impact it has had on the ecology of Guam, another tropical Pacific island. Brown tree snakes were accidentally introduced to the island of Guam through the Navy and the shipping industry. The snakes got themselves into the cargo holds of the ships and then got loose on the island. Guam had many native endemic (found only on the island) bird species, and no native snakes. The birds of the island did not know how to survive against the snakes. Since brown tree snakes are generalists, and will eat about anything they can fit into their mouths, they were easily able to wipe out the populations of native birds on Guam. Now, few native species still survive on the island. Birds that do thrive there are also exotic, and from areas where there were snakes to be wary of.

Like Guam, Hawaii has no native snakes. While other reptiles commonly kept as pets have established wild populations on the island (such as iguanas and jackson chameleons), zoos and academic institutions need special permits in order to bring snakes onto the island to keep in captivity. It’s nearly impossible for a regular resident to have any kind of snake as a pet, as there is also a fear of what a large snake like a boa constrictor could do.

In addition to strict regulation of captive snakes on the island, there is a substantial process in place to prevent the accidental transportation of snakes onto the island through the shipping industry, like Guam. There are special regulations and searches cargo being shipped to Hawaii must go through. There are even teams of specially trained dogs who sniff out snakes and kill them. Even with the strict measures, snakes still find a way. In the past few years, a dozen snakes have been picked up off the runways of airports, that had fallen out of the landing gear holds when they landed. Because there is always a possibility that some may have survived, residents and tourists are constantly reminded via posted signs to keep a look out for snakes and to call 911 if they see one.

I have been to Hawaii and seen some of the last members of a few different bird species that are dwindling due to the change in the forest landscape. The first 30 miles in from the coastline is all non-native species of plants and birds. What little of the natural habitat left is protected, but always in danger. It is imperative that the authorities in Hawaii remain vigilant in their protection of the ecosystems, and that the residents and tourists do all they can to prevent a fate similar to Guam’s.