Keeping snakes is illegal in the state and possession or transporting illegal animals is a class C felony in the state.
As if on cue to usher in the holiday season in snake-free Hawaii, a gopher snake (Pituophis sp.) was found last week in a shipment of Christmas trees at a store in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, according to a press release put out by the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
According to the release, staff at the store had unloaded about half the shipping container when the snake was spotted. Agriculture inspectors with the Plant Quarantine Branch in Hilo were called and were able to capture the snake, which measured about 2 feet in length.
“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,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. “We appreciate the store staff’s quick containment of the snake and our Hilo staff’s quick response.”
What Will Happen to the Snake?
The snake will be transported to Honolulu where officials will determine whether to send it back to the mainland or euthanize it. This isn’t the first time a gopher snake was found in the state. In July 2022, a juvenile gopher snake measuring about 21 inches in length was found in a Kapolei Home Depot on the island of O’ahu. In 2016, a ball python was found on a Maui Hawaii coffee farm. That snake was euthanized due to the poor condition in which it was found. And in 2018, a 5-foot ball python was found near a landfill on the Big Island.
Gopher Snake Found On Maui, Hawaii Euthanized
Live Gopher Snake Found At Hawaii Home Depot
Keeping snakes is illegal in the state. Possession or transporting illegal animals is a class C felony in the state. Fines are $200,000 and up to three years in prison. The state has an amnesty program for those in possession of snakes. They can be turned in to any Humane Society, the Honolulu Zoo or the Panaewa Zoo on the Big Island.
The state takes seriously any snake that is found. There are no native snakes in Hawaii. In an effort to prevent the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) from gaining a foothold in Hawai‘i, the U.S. Department of Interior approved early this year $375,000 in federal funding to the state’s Hawai’i Department of Agriculture to use to bolster its defenses in preventing the snake from getting into the state.
Gopher Snake Information
The gopher snake grows to about 3 to 6 feet in length, with an average length of 4 to 5 feet. They are a heavy bodied snake that can live 15+ years in captivity. They are native to North America. Gopher snakes belong to the genus Pituophis. This genus includes gopher snakes, pine snakes and bullsnakes. The gopher snake is widely captive-bred and is a popular snake among reptile keepers. A variety of morphs are widely available.
