Data set resulting from monitoring the behavior of snakes (n = 62) that had been feed a standardized large meal with transmitter, proportional to their body mass, to make direct comparisons to a control group of snakes that had not been fed a meal (only the transmitter). Transmitters were equipped with a two-position switch that changes pulse rate when the body position of the animal changes more than 10 degrees from the switch's preset orientation. Changes in pulse rate serve as a proxy measurement for snake activity, under the logic that a relatively stationary/sedentary snake would cause the transmitter to tip less frequently that an actively moving/foraging snake would. The experiment took place in the U.S. Geological Survey's Brown Treesnake study enclosure on Northwest Field of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

These data address experimental evaluations of dietary preference by captive brown treesnakes on Guam. Snakes were collected from the wild in areas with birds present and in areas without birds present 2018–2019. Snakes were then run through preference trials during which they were offered first live lures (mouse and finch) in snake traps on opposite sides of the arena. On the second night, snakes were offered dead carrion (baits) of each prey type (mouse, chicken chick) equal to 30% of their mass. Choices were monitored overnight using game cameras and then transcribed the following day. Individuals were classified as BIRD or NOBIRD snakes based on whether they had birds in their gut contents at the time of capture. Interest in bird or mouse prey was quantified by which trap they entered (mouse or finch), number of times they investigated each trap, which bait they ate (mouse or chick) and number of times they investigated the bait or mouse.

These data address experimental evaluations of dietary preference by captive brown treesnakes on Guam. Snakes were collected from the wild in areas with birds present and in areas without birds present 2018–2019. Snakes were then run through preference trials during which they were offered first live lures (mouse and finch) in snake traps on opposite sides of the arena. On the second night, snakes were offered dead carrion (baits) of each prey type (mouse, chicken chick) equal to 30% of their mass. Choices were monitored overnight using game cameras and then transcribed the following day. Individuals were classified as BIRD or NOBIRD snakes based on whether they had birds in their gut contents at the time of capture. Interest in bird or mouse prey was quantified by which trap they entered (mouse or finch), number of times they investigated each trap, which bait they ate (mouse or chick) and number of times they investigated the bait or mouse.

Data fall into three types: 1) individual snake scanning data (PIT tag ID, time stamp, and device) downloaded from readers, 2) individual trait data (sex, size, etc) of tested brown treesnakes, and 3) detailed transcripts of videos of behavioral trial data as snakes interacted with the readers. All data were collected in an experimental arena in Dededo, Guam in August 2021.

Nocturnal visual encounter surveys for Brown Treesnakes were collected and summarized into 4 plain text files (csv format): CapturesLure, SurveysLure, CapturesScent, and SurveysScent. Capture files contain unique Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag identification and measurements of snakes with dates and locations of capture. Survey files contain the dates of transect sampling and treatment application for each transect (Transect ID). Each project used a different type of attractant, either a live-mouse lures in snake traps or liquid fish fertilizer scented spray. Surveys were conducted in a 5-ha geographically closed population on Guam. Teams of two observers conducted night-time surveys from February 1 to March 31 2015 (live-mouse lure project) and November 1 to December 30 2016 (spray scent project). Visual surveys occurred along maintained 220-meter long transects at 8 meter spacing. Observers used headlamps to search for snakes in the vegetation or on the ground. Observers recorded snake identification, measurements, capture location, and date. Surveys began 30 minutes after sunset. For the lure study, transects either had no traps and live mouse lures (NTL) placed on them or had snake traps with live mouse lures (TL). Snake traps were modified minnow traps. Traps were suspended horizontally from natural vegetation 1-1.5 meter (m) off the ground. Within each trap, a chamber housed and protected a live-mouse attractant. Traps were deployed along the same transects where nocturnal visual surveys occurred. For the spray scent study, transects were either unsprayed (1) or sprayed either in the early evening before the night-time survey (2) or the previous day (3). Spray scent consisted of 500 milliliters of Alaska Fish Fertilizer and 14.74 liters of water and was sprayed along the entire length of a transect using a spray backpack over the course of four minutes to ensure a consistent application rate. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Nocturnal visual encounter surveys for Brown Treesnakes were collected and summarized into 4 plain text files (csv format): CapturesLure, SurveysLure, CapturesScent, and SurveysScent. Capture files contain unique Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag identification and measurements of snakes with dates and locations of capture. Survey files contain the dates of transect sampling and treatment application for each transect (Transect ID). Each project used a different type of attractant, either a live-mouse lures in snake traps or liquid fish fertilizer scented spray. Surveys were conducted in a 5-ha geographically closed population on Guam. Teams of two observers conducted night-time surveys from February 1 to March 31 2015 (live-mouse lure project) and November 1 to December 30 2016 (spray scent project). Visual surveys occurred along maintained 220-meter long transects at 8 meter spacing. Observers used headlamps to search for snakes in the vegetation or on the ground. Observers recorded snake identification, measurements, capture location, and date. Surveys began 30 minutes after sunset. For the lure study, transects either had no traps and live mouse lures (NTL) placed on them or had snake traps with live mouse lures (TL). Snake traps were modified minnow traps. Traps were suspended horizontally from natural vegetation 1-1.5 meter (m) off the ground. Within each trap, a chamber housed and protected a live-mouse attractant. Traps were deployed along the same transects where nocturnal visual surveys occurred. For the spray scent study, transects were either unsprayed (1) or sprayed either in the early evening before the night-time survey (2) or the previous day (3). Spray scent consisted of 500 milliliters of Alaska Fish Fertilizer and 14.74 liters of water and was sprayed along the entire length of a transect using a spray backpack over the course of four minutes to ensure a consistent application rate. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

The dataset consists of two spreadsheets that contain brown treesnake data (location, perch taxa, perch height, time of detection, whether visible or not, and size of snake) collected during both visual surveys and radio telemetry within a 55-ha enclosure on Guam.

The dataset consists of two spreadsheets that contain brown treesnake data (location, perch taxa, perch height, time of detection, whether visible or not, and size of snake) collected during both visual surveys and radio telemetry within a 55-ha enclosure on Guam.

We evaluated three walking paces to estimate (1) how snake detection rate per unit distance changes with increasing pace, and (2) how total number of snakes found by the end of a night of surveying varies with pace when the amount of surveying time per night is held constant. For a “fast” pace we searched the 220 meter-long transect in 10 minutes, corresponding to a walking pace of 1.32 km/h, whereas for a “medium” pace we searched 17.5 minutes, corresponding to a pace of approximately 0.75 km/h. The “slow” pace was the 30 minutes (0.44 km/h) the standard previously adopted for work on Guam. Perch height and sizes of detected snakes were recorded for the three paces.

We evaluated three walking paces to estimate (1) how snake detection rate per unit distance changes with increasing pace, and (2) how total number of snakes found by the end of a night of surveying varies with pace when the amount of surveying time per night is held constant. For a “fast” pace we searched the 220 meter-long transect in 10 minutes, corresponding to a walking pace of 1.32 km/h, whereas for a “medium” pace we searched 17.5 minutes, corresponding to a pace of approximately 0.75 km/h. The “slow” pace was the 30 minutes (0.44 km/h) the standard previously adopted for work on Guam. Perch height and sizes of detected snakes were recorded for the three paces.