Development Of A Rapid Response Initiative For Brown Tree Snakes

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Development Of A Rapid Response Initiative For
Brown Tree Snakes

• M.A. Hall, S.E. Henke, B. Pitman

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The Brown Tree Snake

• Arboreal, Nocturnal, Rear-Fanged
• Snake - Mildly Venomous
• Habitat is thick arboreal habitat,
• adaptable to less dense habitat.
• Diet wide and varied. The
• snake will eat anything it can.
• Juveniles ectothermic prey Adults
  endothermic prey

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The Brown Tree Snake

• Distribution
• Native Range is north and eastern Australia
  through New Guinea and surrounding islands.
• Density is extremely low
• Malaita, Solomon Islands 0.10/ha

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The Brown Tree Snake

• Distribution
• Expanded range includes Guam.
• With sightings on several other islands.
• Density on Guam 24-120/ha

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The Brown Tree Snake

• ENVIRONMENTAL - The brown tree snake has
  contributed to the loss of native avian, and
  reptilian species on Guam.
• ECONOMIC - Snakes in search of prey cause
  electrical out-ages on power lines. The added
  cost of control is a burden on the economy.
• HUMAN - The snake poses a limited threat to
  humans. The bite of the snake can cause some
  minor irritation. The old and the young are most
  at risk.

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The Brown Tree Snake

• ENVIRONMENTAL - The brown tree snake has
  contributed to the loss of native avian, and
  reptilian species on Guam.
• ECONOMIC - Snakes in search of prey cause
  electrical out-ages on power lines. The added
  cost of control is a burden on the economy.
• HUMAN - The snake poses a limited threat to
  humans. The bite of the snake can cause some
  minor irritation. The old and the young are most
  at risk.

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The Brown Tree Snake

• ENVIRONMENTAL - The brown tree snake has
  contributed to the loss of native avian, and
  reptilian species on Guam.
• ECONOMIC - Snakes in search of prey cause
  electrical out-ages on power lines. The added
  cost of control is a burden on the economy.
• HUMAN - The snake poses a limited threat to
  humans. The bite of the snake can cause some
  minor irritation. The old and the young are most
  at risk.

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Controlling The Brown Tree Snake

• Guam Is a shipping and military hub
• Multi-Agency Effort
• Pacific Region
• USDA-WS
• USFWS
• USGS
• State and local agencies

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Controlling The Brown Tree Snake

• Ecological
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Biological

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Controlling The Brown Tree Snake

• Ecological
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Biological

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Controlling The Brown Tree Snake

• Ecological
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Biological

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Controlling The Brown Tree Snake

• Ecological
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Biological

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Rapid Response Team

• What is it?
• Part of three pronged approach to prevent the
  spread of the BTS
• Prevention
• Interdiction
• Rapid Response
• New Program (2002)
• Limited To Pacific Region
• Primary Goal Find Reported Snake
• Detect Incipient Populations

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Rapid Response

• How it works
• Sighting outside of Guam
• Call is made to a hotline
• An investigator conducts an interview
• Search area defined, a search conducted

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Rapid Response

• Secondary Benefits
• Develops a data base of potential prey for future
  monitoring
• Education of local population

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Rapid Response In Texas

• Major Points of Entry
• Ports
• Corpus Christi
• Houston
• Major Airports (2)
• Military Bases (18)

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Rapid Response In Texas
1 Texas Tech 2 Tarleton 3 SF Austin 4
Angelo State 5 TAMU 6 SWT 7 TAMUK 8 Sul
Ross
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2
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Texas schools act as sources for search teams
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Rapid Response on Gulf Coast

• The Gulf Coast region is likely to support Brown
  Tree Snakes
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Rainfall
• Entry Points Ports (several hundred, only a few
  receiving traffic from Guam)

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Rapid Response on Gulf Coast

• MAP

D
C
B
Zone A (91-75 0F) Zone B (91- 64 0F Zone C (91-
62 0F) Zone D (91- 54 0F)
A
Only the temp range changes, RH (50-90) and
rainfall (28-132"), remain constant. All ranges
are constructed using annual averages.
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Rapid Response on Gulf Coast

• Nothing Elaborate
• Need to ensure any snake sighting is investigated
  as best as possible.
• A Communication Network
• To respond to and quickly deal with the
  information.

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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Rapid Response Flowchart
Snake Sighting
Contact NABTSCT or1800-STOP-ANS
NABTSCT will ask caller to identify snake via
pictures on website.
Potential BTS
Native/Other Species?
In-depth Interview Conducted
Credible?
STOP
Conduct Search
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Similar Programs

• Existing programs that show success
• Zebra Mussels
• Salvinia
• Established groups that
• monitor certain areas, conduct
• information/prevention programs

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Summary

• BTS
• RRT a control method
• Similar Programs
• Benefits
• Participation is the Key

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Acknowledgements

• Bob Pitman
• Dr. Henke
• The CKWRI
• Photographs courtesy of USDA, USGS, 100th
  Meridian, C. Jacano, Scott Williamson
• Maps courtesy of USGS

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Contact Information

• www.nabtsct.org
• Dr. Scott Henke - kfseh00_at_tamuk.edu
• Marc Hall ksmah00_at_tamuk.edu