Northern Marianas authorities are on high alert after a Brown Tree snake was captured in a trap for the first time.
The snake was caught earlier this month at the Rota Seaport.
Brown Tree Snake Programme Biologist Sylvan Igisomar says the snakes could be a big problem for CNMI if a population is established.
Mr Igisomar says people only have to look at the issues neighbouring Guam is having.
"Some of the things that the Brown Tree Snake has caused in the complete elimination of 11 of the 13 endemic bird species that used to exist on Guam. It also caused a great deal of financial problems as it likes to climb. It climbed on a bunch of power poles and shorted out power affecting thousands of people out there."
Mr Igisomar says one or two snakes have been caught swimming offshore in recent years but the programme has successfully safeguarded the Commonwealth.
