Snake killed near airport was non-venomous

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Inspectors from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA ) have identified a snake killed on Wednesday near Honolulu airport as a bullsnake.

Inspectors say the male bullsnake is a subspecies of the gopher snake. They say that from the size of the snake, it is believed to be a juvenile.

Bullsnakes are non-venomous and are found in North America and may grow up to about six feet. Their diet consists of small rodents, young rabbits, lizards, birds and their eggs. Prey is killed by constriction and suffocation.

The two-foot-long snake was killed around Nimitz Highway and Valkenburg Avenue.

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

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).