Culprit 3: Bolga Irregularis

Bolga Irregularis, more commonly known as the brown tree snake, are generally 18 inches long as juveniles and as long as 8 feet long a adults. The have vertical pupils and a large head when compared to its body. They feed on the eggs of birds and lizards, as well as small mammals, mature birds, and lizards. They are also somewhat venomous and should be avoided if encountered in the wild.


            The brown tree snake is also a very large nuisance to the local human population. There are many reports of a brown tree snake sneaking into the homes of people and biting their infant children. They also have been reported to have taken up residence in some people’s showers.

            The brown tree snake is a perfect example of the unintentional introduction. This sneaky reptile snuck aboard a military cargo ship at the end of World War II and are continually dispersed throughout the world via cargo trucks, cargo trains and cargo planes.

     Since the time they were introduced, about ten native species have become locally extinct, including the white tailed tropicbird, the brown booby, Guam rail, white-throated ground dove, and the Guam flycatcher. Guam has been robbed of nine of 12 native birds, and two of 11 native lizards. The Invasive Species Specialists Group rated it #15 of 100 worst invasive species.

 No plans to eradicate these snake have been put into action, however, some locally endangered species have been temporarily removed from the island until a solution can be reached.