Pythons Smuggled Into Guam

The fight against brown tree snakes seems to be an endless battle, and the US Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the local Department of Agriculture have their hands full trying just about everything to control and eradicate the pesky reptiles, but another problem could surface involving another type of reptile, and if the officials don't get a handle on it quickly... Guam could have a new snake species to deal with.

We did ask if the Department of Agriculture would be sending the snakes off island, however the Chief of Aquatics and Wildlife, Tino Aguon did not know yet how the matter would be handled. He also did not want to comment further on the investigation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ball pythons
• snakes
• brown tree snakes
• guam snakes

[PhreakyNerdy]

Yeah! I hate those snakes who detroyed are beautiful birds. Im sorry if still though there are snake lovers out there reading this but Guam is just strict about having too many pets. There should be a hunting spree on killing these awful predators on Guam whenever if they like or not or better then that it should be a Guamanian/Chamorro Tradition all over the island. I love snakes to but I love Guam more.

[671guy]

whoever brought those phythons to guam are idiots and have no knowledge what so ever..think people before you act you dumb fucks!!!

[KSDS671]

Sorry but there is more on guam! back in 2000 i held one phython at a bb-q! that was back then!!! it should be big now!!!!!!

the guy fed it mice! and that was in 2000

[AGator41]

adding a predator to guam would be a viable answer to guams problem just need to figure out what sort maybe a bald eagle etc...now you better keep up with current affairs a bill put forth by your representive tried to dictate what the United States could have and what they couldnt go look it up HR669 i have a real problem with any place that isnt represented with a star on the american flag trying to push legislation that affects it.

[AGator41]

a ball python wouldnt be an "invasive" species if guam doesnt have any small rodents or very slow flightless birds the ball python just wouldnt thrive it is so very different to the brown tree snake in almost every way many species have ended up where they dont belong and dont become a danger to anything maybe your bird colonies should be preserved in this fashion who are we to say what stays or goes on this planet.

[loveremovalmachine]

The concern is that another invasive species would further eradicate the native species. For example, in the Florida everglades, they've been dealing with the burmese python, which was probably introduced by snake owners releasing these snakes in the wild, has thrived in just the last 15 years on the native bird and mammal population of the Everglades. I must admit I'm not familiar with the actions of my Representative. There is no simple solution here, we've been working on it for over 20 years

[loveremovalmachine]

no, they wouldn't automatically wreak havoc, however, w/o any natural predators within a short time, such a species would thrive on Guam. The brown tree snake has had a head start of almost 40 years. Importing another species to deal with the snakes isn't a viable solution. In the 30's, the cane toad was introduced in Australia in a failed attempt to control the cane beetle, responsible for destroying sugar cane crops, instead, the toad ate other native insects and thrived.

[AGator41]

they would not wreak as much havoc as an brown tree snake but thats beside the point if you dont want anymore snakes being released on guam thats fine i agree but setting forth legislation that effects the WHOLE United States not just guam is wrong plain and simple which is exactly what Your representative tried to do thats what i have a problem with and in fact Guam should have looked into importing mongooses or King snakes to curve the Brown tree Snake Problem but its to late for that.

[loveremovalmachine]

the reason there is concern is because if these snakes were to be introduced to Guam's local ecosystem, they would thrive in the tropical climate and wreak havoc the same way the brown tree snake has. I'm from Guam. When I was a kid, there were birds everywhere on island, but in my lifetime, the brown tree snake has literally wiped-out the native bird population. No one's saying they're the same snake at all, but, they would cause a negative impact if they were ever released on Guam...

[splitsecondetrinity]

omg...i need to quarintine pets.compare from swine flu and pythons =danger