What could possibly go wrong?

[Annarose15]

The article mentioned that the impact on birds will be minimal, as the brown tree snake has killed so many of them already.

From nbcnews.com? Is your popup blocker enabled?

It's probably a firewall conflict here at work. I think the logic sounds kind of silly that they aren't worried about killing more of the already decimated bird population. That's like the logic that allows scientists to kill and dissect previously-thought extinct creatures to learn more about them (see the story about a spider that stopped the building of a highway, I think in Texas).

Found it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1871414.html

[swansonbb]

It's probably a firewall conflict here at work. I think the logic sounds kind of silly that they aren't worried about killing more of the already decimated bird population. That's like the logic that allows scientists to kill and dissect previously-thought extinct creatures to learn more about them (see the story about a spider that stopped the building of a highway, I think in Texas).

Found it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1871414.html

I don't think it's a fair comparison. From the article:

Experts say the impact on other species will be minimal, particularly since the snakes have themselves wiped out the birds that might have been most at risk.

"One concern was that crows may eat mice with the toxicant," said William Pitt, of the U.S. National Wildlife Research Center's Hawaii Field Station. "However, there are no longer wild crows on Guam."

The brown tree snake has devastated several species to the point that the battle (for those species) is over. Perhaps the baited mice will help keep the snake from moving on to another species. And remember, Hawaii is the next big concern. Sometimes containment, despite any possible additional side effects, is the best solution on a macro perspective.

[Annarose15]

I don't think it's a fair comparison. The brown tree snake has devastated several species to the point that the battle (for those species) is over. Perhaps the baited mice will help keep the snake from moving on to another species. And remember, Hawaii is the next big concern. Sometimes containment, despite any possible additional side effects, is the best solution on a macro perspective.

I can see your point. I would hope (and dare assume) that the scientists involved have taken a deep look at the ripple effect of these efforts. It's just a question I would absolutely ask in their shoes (and sounds like they did and weighed the risks).

[mechnut450]

lol pay me I will go around and caught the snakes lol I got nothing better to do right now lol..

[sorraia]

I don't know enough about the situation on Guam, but thinking about it makes me cringe. However if the article is accurate in saying the species of greatest concern are already wiped out... it might just be worth it.