In an incident right out of a holiday shopper's peculiar nightmare, a live snake was found amongst Christmas trees at a Hilo store last Saturday. Workers discovered the reptilian stowaway, a two-foot-long non-venomous gopher snake, while unloading a container of festive evergreens. The store personnel acted to quickly contain the situation and then reached out to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), who sent inspectors to safely capture the intruder.
The inspectors, part of the Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) in Hilo, proceeded to thoroughly, but not exhaustively, check each Christmas tree and the interior of the container. Their efforts confirmed that no other snakes had secretly hitched a ride. Sharon Hurd, HDOA chairperson, acknowledged the limits of their capabilities in a statement: "Although Plant Quarantine inspectors open every container of Christmas trees and wreaths that arrive and conduct an inspection, we do not have the resources to inspect every item in each container," according to the HDOA official report. Hurd praised the prompt actions of the store staff and the PQB team in Hilo.
As mentioned in the same official report, the gopher snake is currently being secured in Hilo but will be transported to Honolulu. Native to North America, these snakes can grow up to about seven feet and pose a potential threat in Hawai‘i, where they lack natural predators and could impact native species and ecosystems.
Gopher snakes typically prey on various small animals, using constriction to subdue their victims. The HDOA is on high alert, as invasive species like this one can significantly disrupt local environments. In the broader context, the PQB expects around 135 containers of Christmas trees and wreaths this season, building upon the 88 containers and approximately 46,450 trees that have already arrived in Hawai‘i this year. "We appreciate the store staff’s quick containment of the snake and our Hilo staff’s quick response," said Hurd in a statement made by the HDOA.
For anyone encountering an illegal animal or potential invasive species in Hawai‘i, the HDOA encourages reporting via their statewide toll-free PEST HOTLINE at 808-643-PEST (7378). Vigilance and swift communication are key in protecting the unique and fragile ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands from threats like the unwittingly imported gopher snake.
