Did you know: Hawaii has no native to Hawaii snakes?

Hawaii does not have any native snakes. However, non-native snakes have been spotted in Hawaii, and the state has strict laws to prevent their introduction.
Non-native snakes in Hawaii
Burrowing blind snake: A nonvenomous snake that is often mistaken for an earthworm
Island blind snake: A harmless snake that is often mistaken for an earthworm
Gopher snake: A nonvenomous snake that was found in Maui in 2023
Brahminy brown snake: A nonvenomous snake that lives in moist leaf litter and loose soil
Brown tree snake: A snake native to the South Pacific that can have a devastating impact on islands it is not native to
Hawaii's laws
Hawaii has strict laws that prohibit owning pet snakes
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture conducts regular inspections and has a rapid response team for snake sightings
Those caught with a pet snake may face up to three years in jail and $200,000 in penalties
Why Hawaii has strict laws
Hawaii's isolated ecosystem is fragile, and non-native snakes could have devastating effects on native wildlife, especially birds