Brown Tree Snake / Kulepbla
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Brown Tree Snake / Kulepbla
Boiga irregularis
Introduced Species
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Above: A snake in the hand is worth two in the bush Right: "Sweepsnakes" haul |  |
The kulepbla, as the brown tree snake is called in Chamoru, is an introduced species that probably arrived on Guam hidden in ship cargo.
It is often mistakenly called the Philippine rat snake, however, scientists have determined that this reptile is the brown tree snake and does not even occur in the Philippines. It is native to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Australia.
The kulepbla deposits up to 12 leathery shelled eggs in caves, hollow trees, or other places where they are protected from drying out and overheating. The eggs hatch after an incubation period of about 90 days. The young kulepbla are about 15 inches (38 cm) long when they hatch, but may reach lengths of three feet (90 cm) in about a year. They are about four to five feet(1.2 to 1.5 m) long when they first reproduce and can grow to as long as 10 feet (3 m).
The kulepbla is one of only two snakes found on Guam. The other is the blind snake or ulo' attelong, as it is called in Chamoru. The kulepbla lives mainly in trees and is nocturnal which means it is most active at night. It is sometimes found in or around homes, commercial buildings and other urban areas in search of food and hiding spots.
These snakes feed on birds, eggs, lizards, rats, mice and other small mammals. They are the cause of the decline of Guam's native forest bird population. They also prey on baby Mariana fruit bats, thus contributing to the overall decline of the bat population. Like most reptiles, the kulepbla can go for long periods without food.
Kulepbla are poisonous. Several babies on Guam have nearly died after being bitten by it. This is why parents are advised to keep kulepbla away from infants and small children. Kulepbla are also constrictors which means they kill their prey by wrapping themselves around their prey and then squeezing. They also kill their prey by holding on to it and chewing, thus allowing the poison to slowly leak into the victim. These snakes will strike and bite if cornered, but people generally have little reason to fear them.
Because the kulepbla is introduced or is not native to Guam, it has no legitimate place on our island. Thus, the Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources encourages the public to destroy all kulepbla or take them live and turn them in to the DAWR for scientific study. Research is ongoing to develop a method to control or eradicate the kulepbla on Guam.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
