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1 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Univer
University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff Publications U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Ser January 2000 eries During Detect eries During Detect Following Supertyphoon Paka Following Supertyphoon Paka Daniel S. Vice USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Richard M. Engeman USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services , s_r100@yahoo.com ollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc Part of the onmental Sciences Commons Vice, Daniel S. and Engeman, Richar Following Supertyphoon Paka" (2000). ch Center - Staff Publications . 187. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/187 ee and open access b Health Inspection Seraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion ch Center - Staff Publications b DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by UNL | Libraries Brown Tree Snake Discoveries During DetectorDog InspectionsNational Wildlife Research Center,1716 Heath Pkwy, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USAÑDetector dog inspection of outbound cargo is one of severaldiscoveries

2 during detector dog inspections was obs
during detector dog inspections was observed. We reportIntroductionBoiga irregularisafter World War II and has established extraordinary population densitiesthroughout the island. It is a worst-case example of the effects that an introducedpredator can have on a native insular fauna (Savidge 1987). The arboreal snakePredation by the snake led to the rapid demise of GuamÕs native birds, lizards, andbats. Currently, three of 12 species of native forest birds survive in the wild, withone of those on the verge of extinction (Savidge 1987, Wiles et al. 1995).Pteropus mariannusalready threatened by over-hunting, has been suppressed by snake predation(Wiles et al. 1995) In addition, many of GuamÕs 11 native lizards have beenGuam has also suffered economic and social consequences from brown treeon poultry and other small domesticated animals (Fritts & McCoid 1991). Theirmillions of dollars of damaged equipment, lost productivity, and repair costs Micronesica 33(1/2):105-110, 2000 Micronesica 33(1/2) 12/10/00 2:07 PM Page 105 close proximity to human development. They are agile climbers that seek refugefrom heat and light during daylight, occasionally in cargo, shipping containersand transport vessels. These characteristics, coupled with GuamÕs position as afocal point for commercial and milit

3 ary shipments of cargo and passengersIns
ary shipments of cargo and passengersInspection of outbound cargo and transport vessels using detector dogs is onespread of brown tree snakes from Guam. Population reduction efforts using spe-around port and cargo staging areas (Engeman et al. 1998b). Re-invasion ofremoval efforts have reduced snake invasion of cargo, with an accompanyingdecrease in the rates at which detector dogs discover snakes during cargo inspec-tions (Engeman et al. 1998a, 1998b, 1998c, 1998e). However, since some snakescircumvent other removal efforts, detector dog inspections of outbound cargoremain necessary.substantial damage to buildings, infrastructure, and forest habitat. While it isunknown what effects the storm had on brown tree snake populations and behav-ior, an increase in snake discoveries by detector dogs was observed followingPaka. We report here on the circumstances of these discoveries and their man-Inspection ProceduresOutbound cargo and cargo vessels on Guam are subjected to searches bysnake detector dog teams of the United States Department of Agriculture, Animaland Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS). Each team iscomprised of a handler and a unique detector dog (Jack Russell terrier). Cargoinspections are prioritized based on the risk of snake incursion in cargo and theprobabili

4 ty of snake colonization at a receiving
ty of snake colonization at a receiving location (Vice et al. 1999). TableRecords of all dog search activities are maintained by WS on Guam. When athat includes the identities of the handler and the dog, the date, site, time of day, 106Micronesica 33(1/2), 2000 Micronesica 33(1/2) 12/10/00 2:07 PM Page 106 discovered during detector dog inspections. Table 2 summarizes the circum-stances for each find. As with previous brown tree snakes found by detector dogs Vice & Engeman: Snake detections after a typhoon107Table 1. An overview of locations, types, and frequencies of brown tree snake inspectionsconducted with detector dog teams on Guam. AAFB = Andersen Air Force Base, AMSS = AirMobility Support Squadron, FISC = Fleet Industrial and Supply Center, COMNAVMAR =Commander Navy Marianas, TMO = Traffic Management Operations, WPIA= Won PatLocationFrequencyCargo Inspection DescriptionAAFBDailyOutbound cargo and the cargo staging areas at the AMSSand the TMO warehouses. Outbound aircraft, when an air-HarmonDailyOutbound cargo and staging areas inside 14 industrial ware-COMNAVMARDailyCargo and staging areas at FISC warehouse, vehicle lot, andKilo WharfAs neededOrdnance is inspected prior to loading ship.Commercial PortDailyOutbound cargo and cargo staging areas at three warehouses.Hotel WharfDailyB

5 reak-bulk cargo is inspected prior to lo
reak-bulk cargo is inspected prior to loading ship.WPIADailyCargo and cargo staging areas, and commercial and privateMilitary exercisesAs occurDog teams are on 24 hour call to inspect cargo, stagingMilitary housingDailyAll military installations and housing island wide. Areas and frequency have increased as dog-teams have been added to the program. Micronesica 33(1/2) 12/10/00 2:07 PM Page 107 108Micronesica 33(1/2), 2000cargo facilities. Second, relief materials entering Guam to assist with typhoonrecovery may have contacted snake habitat. As recovery progressed, the departuredures for the dog teams, with a concurrent increase in snake detection efficacyentering outbound cargo after Paka, there was an increased likelihood that thoseAn increase in brown tree snake discoveries during cargo inspections aftercargo flow, such as large military exercises or responses to natural disasters, mayGuamÕs cargo flow. In the aftermath following natural disasters, some brown treespotlight searches were conducted. However, detector dogs were available foroutbound cargo inspections the day following the typhoon. Under such circum-ReferencesEngeman, R. M. & M. A. Linnell. 1998. Trapping strategies for deterring theEngeman, R. M., M. A. Linnell, P. A. Pochop & J. Gamboa. 1998a. SubstantialBoiga irregulari

6 sTable 2. Summary of brown tree snake di
sTable 2. Summary of brown tree snake discoveries by detector dogs after Typhoon Paka. AAFB =Andersen Air Force Base, WPIA= Won Pat International Airport.DateSiteSpecific CircumstancesPotential Destination(s)31 Dec 1997WPIAIn Continental cargo containerHonolulu, Hawaii27 Feb 1998AAFBIn cargo palletTravis AFB, California, with potential for Hickam AFB, 28 Feb 1998WPIAUnder Continental aircraftMicronesia, Hawaii28 Feb 1998WPIAOutside Northwest cargo areaContinental U. S. Micronesica 33(1/2) 12/10/00 2:07 PM Page 108 Engeman, R. M., M. A. Linnell, D. S. Vice & M. E. Pitzler. 1998b. Efficacy of thesnakes from Guam. Proceedings Australian Vertebrate Pest Conference 11:Engeman, R. M., D. V. Rodriguez, M. A. Linnell & M. E. Pitzler. 1998c. AreviewBoiga irregularisEngeman, R. M., S. Sayama & M. A. Linnell. 1998d. Operational utility ofBoiga irregularisEngeman, R. M., D. S. Vice, D. V. Rodriguez, K. S. Gruver, W. S. Santos & M.E. Pitzler. 1998e. Effectiveness of detector dogs for locating brown treesnakes in cargo. Pacific Conservation Biology. 4: 348Ð353Fritts, T. H. & M. J. McCoid. 1991. Predation by the brown tree snake (irregularisFritts, T. H., M. J. McCoid & R. L. Haddock. 1990. Risks to infants on GuamBoiga irregularis). American Journal ofTropical Medicine and Hygiene 42: 607Ð611.Fritts,

7 T. H., N. J. Scott & J. A. Savidge. 198
T. H., N. J. Scott & J. A. Savidge. 1987. Activity of the arboreal brown treeBoiga irregularisLinnell, M. A., D. V. Rodriguez, R. E. Mauldin & R. M. Engeman. 1997. irregularisMcCoid, M. J., T. H. Fritts & E. W. Campbell, III. 1994. Abrown tree snakeBoiga irregularis) sighting in Texas. Texas Journal of ScienceRodda, G. H. & T. H. Fritts. 1992. The impact of the introduction of the colubridBoiga irregularison GuamÕs lizards. Journal of Herpetology 26:Rodda, G. H., T. H. Fritts & D. Chiszar. 1997. The disappearance of GuamÕsRodda, G. H., T. H. Fritts & P. J. Conry. 1992. Origin and population growth ofBoiga irregularisSavidge, J. A. 1987. Extinction of an island forest avifauna by an introducedSavidge, J. A. 1988. Food habits of Boiga irregularisVice, D. S., M. A. Linnell & M. E. Pitzler. 1999. Draft summary of GuamÕs out-bound cargo handling process: preventing the spread of the brown treesnake. U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspect. Service,Wildlife Service, Barrigada, Guam. 24 pp. Vice & Engeman: Snake detections after a typhoon109 Micronesica 33(1/2) 12/10/00 2:07 PM Page 109 Wiles, G. J., C. F. Aguon, G. W. Davis & D. J. Grout. 1995. The status andReceived 5 May 1998, revised 26 Mar. 2000. 110Micronesica 33(1/2), 2000 Micronesica 33(1/2) 12/10/00 2:07 PM Page 1