2 thousand mice, dead and loaded up with pain medication, were dropped over Guam recently in an attempt to rid the country of brown tree snakes.
2 thousand mice, dead and loaded up with pain medication, were dropped over Guam recently in an attempt to rid the country of brown tree snakes.
The snakes invaded the US territory in the 1950s, presumably in a cargo ship, and have since racked up millions of dollars in losses for both wildlife and commercial enterprises.
Their preferred prey is exotic birds and they love hanging around in electric substations. The latter preference has caused a number of power outages, resulting in lost productivity and big repair bills.
Over the years many eradication methods have been attempted, but eventually the snakes once again manage to thrive.
This time, though, the US Department of Agriculture really believes they’re onto something.
It’s been discovered that the Kryptonite of the brown tree snake is Tylenol.
So, they baited a bunch of dead mice with acetaminophen – Tylenol’s active ingredient - and dropped them over an area dense with snakes, figuring the easy prey will prove irresistible.
Other species, like wandering cats and dogs that are also lured in by the government-issued snacks, will not be harmed, as the dosage is too low to affect them.
