Snake Found in Christmas Tree Shipment Sparks Biosecurity Concerns in Hawaii

A two-foot non-venomous gopher snake was discovered in a container of Christmas trees, raising alarms about invasive species threats to the island's ecosystem.

• Store employees in Hilo, Hawaii, discovered a two-foot-long gopher snake while unloading a shipment of Christmas trees on November 16, 2024.
• The staff quickly contained the snake by closing the container and alerted the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA).
• The gopher snake, native to North America, poses a potential ecological threat in Hawaii due to the lack of natural predators and its diet of small animals and birds.
• HDOA inspectors thoroughly examined the shipment and found no additional snakes; the captured snake will be transported to Honolulu for further handling.
• Hawaii receives thousands of imported Christmas trees annually, and while inspections are conducted, officials acknowledge resource limitations in checking every item for invasive species.

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