What Would We Do Without Scientists?

"...scientists scatter toxic rodents over Guam’s forest canopy."

Great idea. But how do they get all the enviro whackos to Guam?

Not much different than poisoning gophers, just a different level. Sounds like a good winter job.

Toxic to the brown snake maybe - but all they are using is Tylenol.

The brown snake has been a real problem in annihilating the bird population - no natural predators for the snakes.

This is just another experiment Hank Johnson came up with...

Where's Rikki-Tikki-Tavi when you need him?

There was a fascinating book written about this called "And No Birds Sing".

You mean scientists like this one?

http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/suzuki-humans-are-maggots-who-defecate-on-the-environment/

I didn't know that mice could fly. Science is as awesome as Islam.

So, for, when the snakes are all gone and the mutant mice have taken over their niche: "I would like to be the first to welcome our new Rodent overlords..."

And No Birds Sang? Good book but I'm pretty sure that was Farley Mowat's autobiographical account of his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment during WWII, mainly the Sicilian and Italian campaigns.

This actually sounds like a fairly well-directed program.

First point: the brown tree snakes are not native to the island; they are an invasive and destructive species.

Second point: the poisoned baits are made from dead mice, so the "bait" cannot breed and become an invasive species in its own right.

Third point: the poison being used appears to be pretty specific to snakes. If a human ate the bait, the worst that could happen to them is they'd get over a headache.

Science!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p6fTDGLHGQ

Sounds like a bonanza for the Guam tourist association, come see the toxic rodent forest, perhaps a mascot for the local baseball team.

Prime minister Harper could use this as a means to reduce government bureaucracy and foster warm relatiuons with Guam, simply send a regiment of fisheries wonks to guam to "manage" the brown snake stocks.The wonks will enjoy the sunny climes after ottawa and their inheirant mismanagement will cause the snake population to crash.
Everybody will be happy.

Well, let's see how well that works.

If not, I suggest starting a rumour that Guam brown snake soup is a potency enhancer for wealthy Chinese people.

The Guam brown snake would be an endangered species within a couple of years.

As God as my witness, I though mice could fly.

This might actually work. Ontario had a significant problem with fox rabies in the '70s. In the '80s the Ministry of Natural Resources started setting out meat with an oral vaccine in it for the foxes to eat. This included dropping the medicated meatballs from bushplanes. It seems to have worked out quite well, rabies is now very rare.

Larry wins this thread.

Is anyone at all concerned that the poisoned rodents will add too much extra weight to Guam, causing it to tip over and disappear into the ocean?

The separation of the state and science is imperative.

Black Mamba
"Is anyone at all concerned that the poisoned rodents will add too much extra weight to Guam, causing it to tip over and disappear into the ocean?"

Probably...there was a Congresscriter who voiced concerns that rebasing US miliatry units from somewhere else to Guam...(or was it Saipan?) would cause such a calamity...

@ sasquatch at May 12, 2012 9:23 PM
I remember that one. Hank Johnson. Another politician voted in because of his intellect and not his skin color.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/01/hank-johnson-thinks-guam_n_521541.html