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Snake threatens to wipe out birds on island

Hagatna - A snake that can wipe out bird populations and short out electrical grids by climbing power poles has been found in Rota on the Northern Mariana Islands.

Biologists and government officials there tell the Pacific Daily News they're on high alert.

The 100cm male brown tree snake was found in a trap earlier this month.

It doesn't just wipe out birds. It also allows the insect population to grow and limits the diversity of plants.

The snake's corpse was moved to Guam where researchers can determine how long it was in the trap.

Scientists are setting 200 more traps around the island. They don't know if the snake was alone or if there's an established population.

They say anyone who sees a brown tree snake should kill it immediately.

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