It’s illegal to possess and transport snakes in Hawaii because if the non-native reptiles were to gain a foothold it could be devastating for native wildlife.
So when a gopher snake was discovered Saturday in a shipment of Christmas trees being unloaded at a store in Hilo, it sounded alarm bells.
“Store staff unloaded about half the container before they spotted the snake, then closed the container and called the Hawaii Department of Agriculture,” the agency stated in a news release. “Inspectors in Hilo responded and captured the two-foot-long snake. The inspectors checked every Christmas tree and the inside of the container.”
No other snakes were found, but the discovery underscored the high level of concern as Christmas trees begin to arrive for the holidays.
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture stated that an estimated 135 shipping copntainers holding thousands of trees and wreaths will unload at Hawaiian ports this season. So far, about 46,450 Christmas trees have been delivered.
But for the Department of Agriculture, trying to control the presence of snakes, which have no natural predators in the wild, is a yearround effort.
Last April, a wellness check at an eldery resident’s home in Honolulu resulted in the discovery of a live python that measured 3-1/2 feet.
Last January, a 20-inch gopher snake was found in a shipping container that was being unloaded at a Molokai hardware store. Police arrived and killed the snake with a pellet gun.
Possession of illegal animals in Hawaii is a Class C felony. Violators face fines up to $200,000 and up to three years in prison.
