US plan to control snake population with toxic mice
The US government has announced its intention to drop toxic dead mice from the air in an attempt to curtail the spread of invasive snakes in Guam. Animal rights activists and charity Peta however have attacked the plan, dismissing it as "absurd" and "cruel".
The air drop over the pacific island is due to commence in the spring, aiming to address the problems caused by non-native brown tree snakes. Believed to have been inadvertently transported to the island on military ships around 60 years ago, the reptiles have been blamed for killing native birds, biting human inhabitants and knocking out electricity by slithering onto power lines.
The snakes, which can grow to over 10ft in length, are not only thought to pose a threat to native wildlife, but also Guam's tourist industry. The US territory, which is home to around 160,000 people, relies heavily on holiday-making to support its economy.
Government scientists believe the solution is to use a common painkiller known as acetaminophen, which is lethal to the snakes. Scientists plan to add the drug to dead mice, which will then be dropped one by one from a helicopter. The "mice drop" will focus on the Anderson air force base, where it is feared the snakes could hitch a ride off the island.
Supporters of the scheme believe this will help to reduce the snake population, and say there will be minimal impact on other animals. It is reported that the mice will be fitted with mini-parachutes before they are dropped, which are intended to catch on the branches of trees.
Peta however, have attacked the plans. Director of cruelty investigations Martin Mersereau described it as "a clumsy dangerous massacre". The organisation claim that the drugged mice, if consumed, will cause renal and liver failure in the snakes. Mr Mersereau said: "For reptiles, death could take days or even weeks" and the plan presents a "great risk to carnivores and scavengers and also to birds". He added that "although the snakes are considered invasive, no animal should be forced to endure cruel death." Mr Mersereau suggests a better method would be to use trackers to trap the snakes so that they can be euthanised humanely.
Despite the potential risks however, it is reported that the planned mice drop will go ahead in April or May of this year.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
