Brown+tree+snake+-+3

=media type="youtube" key="ADjW3EB3f9U" height="344" width="425"= =__General Information__= ==The Boiga Irregularis or better known as the Brown Tree Snake is an invasive species that was brought to Guam during World War II.(4) This Snake has an appearance that has a great variation of colors that range from light brown to yellowish/green to olive green. The snake's coloration is used as a camouflage for enstance the Brown Tree Snake trys to blend in to look like vines in the forests. Once the snake is first born they are around fifteen inches in lenght. At an average these snakes grow to about three or four feet long, even though there have been sightings of these snakes being around ten feet long.==

=__Detailed Description__= ==Life cycle / Reproduction information The knewlege of the ways of reproductuion for the Brown Tree Snake are not that well known. The female snake can produce between four to fourteen eggs. These eggs have a leathery shell and after the shells dry the eggs usually clump together. The female usually leaves the eggs in hollow logs, rock crevices, and just about any other place that will protect the eggs from hot temperatures which make the eggs dry up. The female snake ususally produces two sets of eggs each year. The Brown Tree Snake like other snakes may be able to store sperm and produce eggs after several years after mating. The Brown Tree Snake matures rapidly and reproduce frequently which has caused the snake to have a density of 13,000 per square mile in sume areas.(2)==

__Diet__
Lizards Bats Rats Mice Domestic Birds Bird Eggs (5)

=__Habitat and Distribution__= ==Though the Brown Tree Snake seems to have a habitat off in the forests and in trees. The snake does not only live out in the woods they will live in in grasslands and other envirments. These snakes have also been seen at high elevations up to 1,200 meters. Most commonly the Brown Tree Snake is found in trees, caves, and even the dark corners of thatched houses near the roof.(2)==

[[image:brown_tree_snake4.jpg]]
=__Impacts__= ===The Brown Tree Snake really has no good ecological impact only negitive ones such as that the snake preys on native lizards and birds, these snakes have been the cause of many power outages. This snake has divoured most of Guam's native forest birds. Since the bird population has been going down the snakes have started to go after the native lizards. Disease, predation, and competition are the how the snakes population is kept in check in their native lands. Though these process probable do occur in Guam they are just not enough to keep the snake's population in control.(1)===

__Human Impacts__
===Economic impacts Though there is such a high population of the Brown Tree Snake in Guam they are very rarely seen by people. Many of the residents that live in Guam have never seen one of these snakes.(1) This snake really does not stay away from people they actually live in residential areas because in these areas there more of their prey, such as rodents, lizards, and poultry. These snakes have no interest in human. They also are nocturnal and rest during the day and hunt during the night.(4)=== =__History__= ==The Brown Tree Snake is native to the northern coastal areas of Australia, in Papua New Guinea, and a large number of islands in northwestern Melanesia.(2) The Brown Tree Snake is believed to have arrived in Guam through cargo transported by ships or planes during World War II.(1)== =__Control Measures__= =The Brown Tree Snake would could spread if there was no control on the snake. The Federal Government's Wildlife Services and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are trying to keep the Brown Tree Snake from leaving and invading any other areas. They are using snake traps to help keep all the snakes from leaving, they use detector dogs to search cargo, night time spot light searches, and they also use public education.(3)= =="When departing Guam, you can help ensure the snake does not leave with you by carefully inspecting your belongings, particularly outdoor goods, when packing."(1) They tell all the people too check their lugage so they don't accidentally take any of these snakes with them. ==


 * 1) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_wsbtsnake.pdf
 * 2) http://www.mesc.usgs.gov/resources/education/bts/bioeco/btsnake.asp
 * 3) http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/bts.shtml
 * 4) http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=54&fr=1&sts=sss
 * 1) http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/Snake.html