Brown tree snake wrapped around a fence. This little critter can have tremendous impacts on the environment.
Guam is known often used as a text book case study of what an invasive species can do to a place. It has, unfortunately, been shaped wildly by invasive species and becaus it is an island in the tropics, the impacts that an invasive species can have is so much more profound. It was rather appalling what I saw when I was there as the Hawai’i subject matter expert on Biosecurity. There were weeds running rampant, coconut trees dying or under distress like crazy from Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and diseases, and of course, the brown tree snake (BTS). BTS is one of the invasive species that makes Guam the poster child that it is. It has single handedly wiped out native fauna like crazy, jeopardizes human health and even the power supply. Millions are spent trying to keep it on Guam, including doing things like Fence Line Surveys which I got to do the night before I left. Now, there were a couple of issues with doing BTS work the night you leave. Snakes, like most reptiles, will pee and poop when stressed. It is also concentrated with urea so it smells. I did not want to get any one me because given the way Guam is (humid), getting it cleaned in time to come home without making everything else stink was highly unlikely. I also found that BTS felt nothing like I expected. I’ve handled other snakes before. No problem. But the BTS felt at once more slimy and sticky. Not the most pleasant of feelings. I’ll have to go back to Guam. Seeing what you can lose is always a good way to energize and get back to what you can protect and preserve.
