Workers kill snake near Honolulu Airport

A landscaping crew killed this snake near Honolulu Airport Wednesday morning

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The State Department of Agriculture says road crews working on Nimitz Highway near Honolulu Airport killed a two foot snake Wednesday morning.

A landscaping crew from Island Landscaping was cutting grass along the on-ramp to the freeway at about 8:45 a.m. when the snake was injured a weedwacker.

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The snake died soon after. The crew called police and inspectors from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA), who retrieved the dead snake.

Department of Agriculture plant quarantine officials are trying to identify the snake's species and gender.

Snakes are illegal to possess and transport to Hawaii and HDOA urges those who spot illegal animals or who know of persons possessing illegal animals to call the State's PEST HOTLINE at 643-PEST(7378).

HDOA say snakes and large lizards have no natural predators in Hawaii and pose a serious threat to Hawai`i's environment because they compete with native animal populations for food and habitat.

Many species also prey on birds and their eggs, increasing the threat to our endangered native birds. Large snakes may also kill pets and even humans.

Meanwhile on the Big Island of Hawaii, Saneishi said a Ferret was turned in over the weekend. More to come on HawaiiNewsNow.com.