Snake is on the loose in Haiku

Honolulu Star Bulletin ^ | Thursday, October 10, 2002 | Gary T. Kubota

[Vidalia]

WAILUKU >> State officials are to resume a search for a snake, believed to be either a boa constrictor or a python, in the Awalau Street area in rural Haiku, Maui.

The search began Tuesday and continued yesterday, after Haiku resident Antonio Olivera reported a snake slithering across his boots while he was cutting cane grass about two weeks ago.

"It was dark green with brown patches, about 3 inches in diameter," Olivera said.

He told searchers the snake was 3 to 4 feet long.

Neighborhood homeowners thought they could catch the snake, not realizing the difficulty and seriousness of the situation, and alerted the state Tuesday, according to the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Committee coordinator Jack Peterson said about nine people, including members from his group and state officials, have been involved in the search.

He said searchers are working on various strategies to find or lure the snake from its hiding place.

Searchers have hooked up an electrical extension cord and plan to use a warming device used in terrariums to lure the snake in the chill of the morning.

Peterson said they also are planning to bring in a backhoe to clear a cane grass area where the snake was last seen.

State wildlife officials are also looking into the possibility of using a snake-sniffing dog.

Peterson said they have found rats and mice in the cane grass area, so it seems promising that the snake is still there.

He said neighborhood animals have been continuing to act unusual, indicating the snake is still in the vicinity.

"The dogs have been excited. A pig was squealing all night," Peterson said.

Peterson said his group and state officials conducted a sweep of the area with rakes and machetes Tuesday but were unsuccessful.

State wildlife biologist Fern Duvall said while a boa constrictor or python is not considered dangerous to humans, all snakes are huge threats to the native environment in Hawaii, especially birds.

On Oahu, state agriculture officials say they have not had any new sightings of a snake, believed to be a boa constrictor, last spotted Aug. 22 near the Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center.

Anyone seeing a snake is asked to call 911 immediately, and the police will contact state officials.

[Vidalia]

"Anyone seeing a snake is asked to call 911 immediately, and the police will contact state officials."

My apologies, for I thought the thing read as such,

"Anyone seeing a snake is asked to call 911 immediately, and the police should find the recognized state official(s)."

I don't know what to say...

[southernnorthcarolina]

Slithering serpents
Vex the Haiku populace:
Poetic justice

[IncPen]

Haiku? Fine, you?

What slithers, unseen
Places it does not belong
Pigs squeal in the night

[PoorMuttly]

They do bite (though not as severely or frequently as moose), but if there are mice around...it'll get real fat, and stick around. Obviously not afraid of humans, so should be easy to catch...providing it IS a boa or python...and not a cobra or such...dark green???

I once had a Florida King Snake (which the Bronx Zoo staff helped me to hatch her eggs...quite a surprise!) get loose in my suburban basement. I turned the heat up. In a few days, I spotted it around 10 feet away between the interior wall and the cement. I took a heavy fishing rod...a boat rod, tied a live mouse to it, around it's waist, and tossed it toward the snake. After waiting very few minutes...I reeled in Gwendolyn...and unfortunate Mickey.

[Consort]

Maybe it's an Okinawan Habu.

[martin_fierro]

A misunderstood python in Haiku
asked, "Why don't you think that I like you?
"Pay no heed to dogs
"or even to hogs,
"I'll hug, but I surely won't bite you!"

------------------------
Some contend that a Cinquain's the thing,
or a Haiku, with its Yan and Ying;
I pondered a Sonnet,
then said, "Fie upon it!"

And instead send this Limerick

[Zon]

Snakes are not indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. Importing snakes to Hawaii is prohibited by law. Thus they only snakes that are there is to criminals importing them or stowaway snakes arrive on ships. They want to keep it that way. That's what all the fuss is about.

[Yardstick]

What's new in Haiku?
A sow said a boa's loose
and two curs concurred

[Redcloak]

Scales glistening
Tongue tasting the air for prey
Tourists screaming

[struggle]

and now for somthing completely different:

’·‚¢ŽÖ
”o‹å‚Ì’¬‚É
‚½‚­‚ç‚Þ‚âI

the streched reptile
in the hamlet of haiku
forms plans and mischief (ya)

[Vidalia]

I am somewhat aware of that, since part of my family has been around the Islands for over 200 years.

Knowledge of the types of snakes that avail themselves is not a mystery to me and mine, but I appreciate the thought...

[PatrickHenry]

The "traditional" English haiku (5-7-5 syllables):

Slithering I come
Although I am unwanted
To Honolulu

[Zon]

I vacationed on Maui 25 years ago. How is the current snake situation on the Islands, are their many of them?

[Slicksadick]

Serpent on the loose
Takes the news headlines away
From dead dem running

[southernnorthcarolina]

Perfect FReeper Haiku:
Moose in tinfoil hat eats cheese,
Farts at Hillary

[Vidalia]

The islands are clear of the reptilian, but the two legged vipers are rampant...

[Zon]

Typically zoos have snakes. Since the Islands don't have snakes, perhaps one of the Hawaiian zoos has room for two-legged political-vipers...

[vollmond]

Snake is on the loose
Hawaii will vote for it
If it's a Demo

[strela]

Snake in paradise
Coiled critter does the town
Tourism kaput.

[RedWhiteBlue]

I will not bite you.
Take me in, pretty woman;
You can trust a snake!

Slithering reptile,
Tasting the air with forked toungue
Takes your life away.