The Brown Tree Snake

On my way back from the hash last night I spotted a snake on the road. It was the notorious brown tree snake. This was the first time I have seen the hated snake and many of my coworkers that have been on Guam for years have still never seen them. The brown tree snake arrived on Guam during or shortly following World War II. The exotic species was the first snake ever to slither through Guam's beautiful jungles and the island would never be the same. Over the past 50 years, the brown tree snake has decimated the bird population. There are practically no birds on the island. The only birds I have seen are a few swallows - an exotic species from Europe.

The brown tree snake on Guam is the first documented case of an exotic species to single handedly drive another species into extinction (unless you count human beings). No one knew it could actually happen. Here are some of the birds that are gone:

The White Throated Ground Dove: Extirpated from Guam

The Bridle White-Eye : Extirpated from Guam

Cardinal Honey eater: Extirpated from Guam

Nightingale Reed-warbler: Extirpated from Guam

Guam Rail: Endangered

Rufous Fantail: Extinct

Marianas Fruit Dove: Extirpated from Guam

Micronesian Kingfisher: Exists only in captivity

Guam Flycatcher: Extinct

Today, the brown tree snake has also been sighted on Saipan. Saipan is one of the last island where many of these birds remain in their native habitat. Rota, the other island, has a feral cat problem that is decimating the native birds.

The only good thing about the brown tree snakes' continued presence on Guam is since they have eliminated all the birds, they help control the rat population - another exotic invasive species.