April 24, 2023, 5:00 AM HST
News of a cat nest in Waikōloa is stimulating discussion after the Department of Land and Natural Resources purchased property business Alexander & Baldwin, owner of Queens’ Marketplace, to get rid of long time feline feeding and water stations.
The required followed the state validated a grievance that nēnē (Hawaiian goose) were “observed consuming the cat food and regularly spending time among the feral cat colony, which has resulted in harm to nēnē.”
Nēnē are threatened and likewise the Hawaiʻi state bird, so securing them is a top priority of the state.
About 50 individuals came out recently to object the elimination of the feeding stations. Two individuals were eventually mentioned by state preservation and resources officers for “prohibited take of endangered species” by putting bowls of cat food on the ground.
There is an overpopulation of animals in basic on Hawaiʻi Island. The shelters are at optimal capability and there are cat nests throughout the county, either abandoned or made sure by animal fans.
On Lānaʻi, there is a not-for-profit feral cat sanctuary, which conserves cats and safeguards birds.
So today, in our survey, we inquire about what is the very best method to humanely deal with the overpopulation of feral/community cats on the Big Island.
Please leave a remark letting us understand why you voted the method you did — or let us understand if you have another service that is not on the list. Mahalo for taking our survey.
