It likely entered the island by accidentally being introduced on cargo ships in the 1940s. It caused destruction to the ecological balance in Guam by nearly eliminating its native bird species from existence and permitting spiders to inhabit the population.
It entered Guam on cargo ships around the 1940s. By the 1980s, it managed to kill ten of its twelve species. Since snakes are largely absent, spider populations mushroomed and covered the island’s forests in dense webs. This has made Guam a true ecological oddity.
In addition to devouring all sorts of small animals, these snakes also prevent native birds from making any resurgence. Conservationists have tried to safeguard the remaining bird populations by installing metal “baffles” to bar snakes from nest boxes.
The snakes, however, are too resourceful to be deterred by these simple barriers. Scientists like Haldre Rogers and Julie Savidge have documented the destruction of the snakes and the unexpected consequences on spider and other insect populations. Their work shows how one invasive species can dramatically alter an ecosystem, creating a unique and eerie environment in Guam’s forests.