By Sophie Cocke 02/16/2012

In two cramped rooms in the industrial section of Sand Island, dozens of snakes, lizards and coqui frogs wait in an airless room that reeks of excrement and wood chips.

One day, they will likely be shipped out of Hawaii to a reptile sanctuary or zoo, but many have been there for months.

Pythons, boa constrictors, bearded dragons and blue tongue skinks, of all stripes and colors, are just a few of the unwelcome animals that the Department of Agriculture’s quarantine department has either captured, or that have been handed over via a don’t ask, don’t tell amnesty program.

In fiscal year 2011, quarantine officials took in 221 animals alone. Local residents also reported sightings of 185 non-native species, many of which were never caught. Twenty-five of the reports were of snakes, which have no history in Hawaii.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/16/14914-ag-dept-struggles-with-unwelcome-animals/