A highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake was discovered on Honoli’i Beach in Hilo last week, prompting a warning from the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB).

The PQB is urging beachgoers and ocean enthusiasts to exercise extreme caution and refrain from touching any snake-like reptile, as they could be mistaken for eels. Yellow-bellied sea snakes are easily identifiable by their distinctive bright yellow underbelly.

On February 4th, the Hilo PQB office received a report from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) regarding a live snake found pinned under a log at Honoli’i Beach. PQB inspectors swiftly responded, collecting the 3-foot-long snake, which lifeguards had secured in a 5-gallon bucket. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

“We want to emphasize the importance of being cautious around any snake-like reptile found in or near the ocean,” stated Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai’i Board of Agriculture. “This particular type of sea snake possesses a venom that can be more potent than a cobra and potentially fatal to humans.”

While yellow-bellied sea snakes inhabit the Pacific Ocean, sightings on land in Hawai’i are infrequent, typically occurring when strong winds or currents push them ashore. The importation or possession of this species is strictly prohibited in Hawai’i. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant. If you spot a sea snake on land, DO NOT touch it. Instead, immediately contact the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).