… Guam's ecosystem has been ravaged by invasive species such as the brown tree snake and the rhino beetle. ... and human health impacts that invasive species cause. When the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam it caused the local extinction of most of the island’s native bird and lizard species. Our View: Invasive species are a threat and must be dealt with. Impact and Control of the Brown Tree Snake as an Invasive Species on Guam by Karen Myers Introduction “Invasive species are a rapidly growing problem, and in many areas, they are the second-most-important cause of species declines” (Perry & Vice, 2009, p. 993). Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) Regulatory Status: Hawaii Injurious Wildlife. Texas Journal of Science 46: 365-368. When the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam it caused the local extinction of most of the island’s native bird and lizard species.It also caused \"cascading\" ecological effects by removing native pollinators, causing the subsequent decline of native plant species. Invasive species are a significant threat to many native habitats and species of the United States and a significant cost to agriculture, forestry, and recreation. For example, ESTCP is funding a demonstration project that is intended to evaluate the aerial application of acetaminophen-treated baits for the control of brown tree snakes. Due to abundant food sources and few natural predators, brown tree snakes have become a detrimental invasive species in Guam. It is much cheaper than intervention once a snake population is established. Without rigorous prevention, it is extremely difficult to control (let alone remove) an introduced reptile species. 2009. Includes species listed as injurious wildlife under the Federal Lacey Act (18 USC 42), which makes it illegal to import injurious wildlife into the United States or transport between the listed jurisdictions in the shipment clause (the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any possession of the United States) without a permit. Native island species are predisposed and vulnerable to local extinction by invaders. The species is also known for its ability to decimate populations of small vertebrates in the habitats it colonizes. A Brown Tree Snake (Colubridae: Boiga irregularis) Sighting in Texas. Brown tree snakes, an invasive species that was thought to have come to the island in the 1950s as a stowaway on a ship, feasted on the eggs of the island’s birds. WS conducts an operational program aimed at preventing the spread of the snake from Guam and protecting vital economic and ecological resources on the island.. Without rigorous prevention, it is extremely difficult to control (let alone remove) an introduced reptile species.