Guam, USA

Located in the Pacific Ocean on the other side of the dateline, the Island of Guam bills itself as the place "where America's day begins." Part of the island is volcanic in origin, and the rest is composed of limestone, reefs that have been uplifted in several major stages. With a population of about 150,000 people and a land area of abut 550 km², this US territory has played an important role in the history of several military conflicts.

At the end of WWII, the Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis, often abbreviated BTS) was accidentally introduced to Guam, probably via Apra Harbor. By the late 1970s, Guam's birds were in obvious decline, and the snake was soon identified as the main cause. A multi-agency program has since been instated to control the snake. Because Guam remains an important transportation hub, allowing snakes to "hitch-hike" rides in airplanes and ships and travel to places like Hawai'i, Texas, and even Spain, an important part of the effort is prevention of further spread. Control efforts are led by the USDA's Wildlife Services, and much of the research is currently led by Dr. Gordon Rodda of the USGS. The primary university contact for the Brown Tree Snake Project is Dr. Julie Savidge at Colorado State University (e-mail Dr. Savidge). The on-island home-base for much of the research is the Guam National Wildlife Refuge at Ritidian Point in northern Guam. Related work, such as the breeding of Guam rails for eventual re-introduction, is carried out by the Government of Guam's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources.

My work in Guam

Additional Guam information: Guam government site; CIA factbook