Go Native! Building Pride on Guam

Cheryl M. CalaustroGuam Dept. of Agriculture

Guam Rail, ko’ko’

The results of invasive species

“Why should I care?”

http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/h2onc/categor/invasive-species/

Pre-Campaign Survey conducted in Spring 08

• 53.7% knew the brown treesnake is a threat

• 5% knew that feral cats and rodents are also potential predators

•43% knew to call authorities regarding invasive species

•40% knew to not release animals into the wild

•23% knew to spay and neuter pets

Survey continued…

The majority of youth were neutral when asked if they thought spaying or neutering pets will help native wildlife.

The majority of youth believe there is something they can do to protect the native wildlife of Guam.

The majority of youth who own pets did not have them spayed or neutered.

Christmas trees may hide invadersBY BRETT KELMAN • PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • NOVEMBER 28, 2008 There could be more than just ornaments hanging in your tree.

Snake comes in by Christmas treeBY BRETT KELMAN • PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • DECEMBER 5, 2008 Workers at Cost-U-Less in Tamuning found a present under one of their Christmas trees a little early this year -a snake.

ResultsSMART Objective Pre-Campaign

(%)Post-Campaign

(%)Change (Post% - Pre%)

SMART Objective

attainment

By the end of April 2009, increase from 67% to 87% (a 20 percentage

point increase) the number of youth (ages 16-20) who state that “the ko’ko’ are only found on Guam”.

66.9 74.8 7.9pp 39.5%

By the end of April 2009, increase from 25% to 45% (a 20 percentage

point increase) the number of youth (ages 16-20) who “strongly agree” that spaying/neutering pets helps

native wildlife.

24.8 28.9 4.1pp 20.5%

By the end of April 2009, increase from 44% to 64% (a 20 percentage

point increase) the number of youth (ages 16-20) who do not release

unwanted pets in the wild.

44.3 55.5 11.2pp 56.0%

“Seeing” Results

SAVE KO’KO’Sal Avilla II, Christian Cruz, Anthony

Concepcion(GWHS – 9/10 English class)

We’ll kill all the snakesWe’ll shoot all the cats

We’ll do whatever it takesWe’ll burn all the rats

We shall chow the pig and deerWe will eat with no regretKo’ko’ birds help is near

Ko’ko’ Rap Gerika Paulino, 5th grade

Inarajan Elementary

Long ago, on the island of GUAMKo’ ko’ birds were oh so calm.

Now they are oh so scared‘cause the brown tree snake made them

bare.The snakes catch them ‘cause they can’t flyNo one wants to see the ko’ko’ go BYE!!!!Please don’t make the ko’ko’s go please.

‘cause you’ll never be at ease……

Importance of Stakeholders/Partnerships

•You can’t do it alone•Added resources/ knowledge•Enable the removal of barriers •Continuance of campaign goals Che’lu with US Congressman Rahall, Chairman for the Committee of

Natural Resources and Guam Congresswoman Bordallo Supporters of the ko’ko’ come from all walks of life.

Lessons LearnedMove along on the

behavior change continuum.

Everyone has challenges, adaptive management is key.

Achievement is relative. Look for new

opportunities.

Ko’ko’ for Cocos!!!

Guam’s forests now sing

Maraming Salamat Sa

Inyong Lahat!

Good Luck!

Cheryl M. CalaustroWildlife Biologistccalaustro@ gmail.com