A major push to protect Guam’s native wildlife — and stop the spread

A major push to protect Guam’s native wildlife — and stop the spread of the invasive brown tree snake — brought more than 125 people to Gab Gab Beach this week. NAVFAC Marianas and the University of Guam’s Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant teamed up to host a hands-on control workshop and nighttime snake hunt.

Under the theme “Learn. Spot. Protect Native Species of the Marianas,” participants got up close with live brown tree snakes, practiced safe capture techniques, and learned how to identify the highly cryptic species in the forest canopy. Partner agencies — including USDA Wildlife Services, USGS, National Park Service, and DOAG — also shared strategies to combat other invasive threats like the coconut rhinoceros beetle and little fire ant.

The workshop led into a night hunt drawing more than 85 people, who managed to spot four snakes and capture three — a significant feat given the snake’s ability to climb and camouflage.

UOG's Dr. Else Demeulenaere called the effort both ecological and cultural, noting the brown tree snake has wiped out most of Guam’s native bird species and continues to threaten island biodiversity.