KONA - A Kona resident working
in a backyard reported sighting what looked like a two-and-a-half-foot
to three-foot snake in an adjacent vacant lot yesterday morning. The
resident said he saw a brown-colored snake climbing a Christmas berry
tree and as he approached, the snake looked at him, flicked his tongue,
then slithered off the branch and disappeared into the brush below. It
is not known what type of snake was spotted.A call was made to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, which notified the Hawaii Department of
Agriculture and a Plant Quarantine inspector went immediately to the
site but the snake was not seen. A biologist from the state Department
of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) also went to investigate the
sighting later in the day.
Early this morning, HDOA and DLNR personnel set 10 snake traps baited
with live mice. Snake bait blocks are being flown from Honolulu to Kona
tonight. Traps will be monitored daily.
HDOA and DLNR remind Kona residents that if they spot a snake or
other illegal animal, they should report it immediately to the Hawaii
Department of Agriculture - Kona Office at 326-1077 or the PEST HOTLINE
on Oahu at 586-PEST (7378); or call 911 for police.
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Contact:
Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9560
Pager: (808) 641-4581
Email:
hdoa.info@hawaii.gov
Deborah Ward
Public Information Office
Department of Land & Natural Resources
Phone: (808) 587-0320