U.S. Uses 2,000 Mice with Acetaminophen to Reduce Invasive Snakes in Forests and Protect Wildlife and Power Grid

Written by Noel Budeguer

Published on 03/01/2026 at 22:54

Estratégia com 80 miligramas de paracetamol ganhou testes em campo, evoluiu para sistema automatizado e virou parte do controle contínuo da cobra castanha arborícola em Guam

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Strategy With 80 Milligrams Of Paracetamol Passed Field Tests, Evolved Into Automated System And Became Part Of The Continuous Control Of The Brown Tree Snake In Guam

The planned action for the forests of Guam has moved from paper to being included in the measures used to combat the brown tree snake.

The method uses dead rodents with 80 milligrams of paracetamol, a lethal dose for the species, placed in the environment to facilitate encounters by the snakes.

Besides impacting wildlife, the advance of snakes also affects the island’s infrastructure, posing risks to electrical systems and power outages.

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What Happened And Why It Caught Attention

The operation involved the release of 2,000 rats already dead, prepared to serve as toxic bait for the snakes.

The target is the brown tree snake, which can grow up to three meters and has spread aggressively across the island.

The strategy caught attention for using paracetamol as a toxicant for an invasive reptile, taking advantage of the species’ high sensitivity to the compound.

How The Baits Fall From The Trees

Left: standard aerial delivery system (ADS) with dead rat bait weighing **4 to 6 g** and **one 80 mg acetaminophen tablet** externally attached.
Right: proposed alternative land bait made up of a dead rat weighing **13 to 17 g** with **two 80 mg tablets** inserted into its body.

To reduce the risk of other animals finding the baits on the ground, the delivery was designed to get snagged in the vegetation.

The procedure plans for the rodents to be released one by one, with a mini parachute, to get entangled in the trees where the snakes move.

There was also the use of radio tracking on some of the baits to monitor snake movements before death, during the evaluation stages of the method.

Why Paracetamol Entered Snake Control

Paracetamol is an effective oral toxicant for the brown tree snake, with a dose of 80 milligrams associated with very high mortality in the species.

Broad-scale control gained momentum with the development of an automated aerial delivery system, designed to distribute baits in forest areas quickly and uniformly.

Tests and validations indicate that the technique can reduce the abundance of snakes in treated areas, although it does not eliminate the problem definitively.

The Size Of The Problem In Guam And The Daily Damages

Brown tree snakes can vary significantly in size. The image shows a small juvenile (**713 mm** snout-to-vent length, **36 g** body mass; on the left) and an exceptionally large male (**1,800 mm**, **1,285 g**; on the right)

Estimates suggest about 2 million snakes in 541 square kilometers of Guam, with densities ranging from 50 to 100 snakes per hectare in critical areas.

The species is linked to the loss of native birds, with the extinction of nine out of the 12 native species cited in the history of the problem.

The pressure also manifests in infrastructure, focusing on reducing power outages and risks in electrical installations.

What May Happen From Now On

The program is not limited to a single action and has become part of a set of control measures, with ongoing research and method adjustments.

Aerial drops may suppress snakes for a period, but reinvasion occurs from untreated areas over months, underscoring the need for reapplications and combinations with other tools.

Guam remains an unincorporated US territory with 160,000 people and military significance, while snake control continues to be an environmental and essential service issue, such as energy.

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Antonio Tripoloni

#220720

05/01/2026 20:34

EQUÍVOCO. CONTROLA COM AVESTRUZ EMA SIRIEMA ok?

Responder

Reinaldo Timaure

#220686

05/01/2026 18:31

Tengo entendido que las serpientes no consumen animales muertos, inoculan con su mordida el veneno
que actua como las enzimas digestivas lo ayuda a digerir la presa antes de ser deglutida, lo que favorece su digestion

Responder

Andres

#237742

Em resposta a Reinaldo Timaure

20/02/2026 16:59

entiendes mal

Responder

Aliete

#220675

05/01/2026 18:12

Ótimo iniciativa.

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U.S. Uses 2,000 Mice with Acetaminophen to Reduce Invasive Snakes in Forests and Protect Wildlife and Power Grid

Strategy With 80 Milligrams Of Paracetamol Passed Field Tests, Evolved Into Automated System And Became Part Of The Continuous Control Of The Brown Tree Snake In Guam

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How The Baits Fall From The Trees

Why Paracetamol Entered Snake Control

The Size Of The Problem In Guam And The Daily Damages

What May Happen From Now On

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U.S. Uses 2,000 Mice with Acetaminophen to Reduce Invasive Snakes in Forests and Protect Wildlife and Power Grid

Strategy With 80 Milligrams Of Paracetamol Passed Field Tests, Evolved Into Automated System And Became Part Of The Continuous Control Of The Brown Tree Snake In Guam

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

What Happened And Why It Caught Attention

How The Baits Fall From The Trees

Why Paracetamol Entered Snake Control

The Size Of The Problem In Guam And The Daily Damages

What May Happen From Now On

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