A snake apparently hitched a ride in a traveler’s carry-on bag, joining him on vacation from Florida all the way to Hawaii.
The non-venomous black racer snake was only discovered when the 20-year old man from Virginia reached his Hawaii vacation rental in Maui.
It slithered out on opening the backpack and officers of the Native Ecosystem Protection Management were called.
It is assumed the snake somehow hitched a ride when the man was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Snakes are not endemic to Hawaii and let loose could pose a major threat to the ecosystem.
"It is fortunate that the owner of the rental was aware of the seriousness of the snake being transported to Hawaii and took appropriate action and reported it. Visitors to our islands may not fully understand the threat that snakes pose to our community and our unique environment," said Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, chair of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture.
Snakes have no natural predators in Hawaii.
"It appears to be a newborn measuring about a foot long and 1/4 inch in diameter. They are mainly found in Florida and the eastern half of the U.S. and may grow up to six feet in length," the HDOA and department of land and natural resources said in a joint statement.
