DLNR to Conduct Feral Animal Eradication

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities for feral goats, feral sheep and mouflon within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands and the Kaohe Game Management Area.

Aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, an endangered bird endemic to Hawai‘i.

The next control dates are Sept. 13 and 14, 2017. Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted and allowed by permit only for animal salvage.

The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open. The temporary closure is needed to minimize the dangers of incompatible uses in the forest area and safely conduct animal control activities.

To implement the closure, both the Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrances to Unit A and G and the gate behind Mauna Kea State Recreation Area will be locked and reopened as follows:  locked at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12 and reopened 7 p.m. on Sept. 14.

Due to high public participation, telephone call-ins to the DOFAW Kamuela Office at (808) 887-6063 for receiving salvage permits will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. the day before each shoot day.

One permit will be issued per call, per vehicle for one day only. Applicants can have their names added to a stand-by list for additional days, should all slots not be filled by other applicants.

Standbys waiting at the gates will not be allowed access. The driver, occupants, vehicle license plate, and the make and model of the vehicle are needed when calling in. A maximum of fifteen permitted vehicles will be allowed at the Pu‘u Ahumoa location and fifteen permitted vehicles at the Pu‘u Mali location.

Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public for salvage at the following locations (4-wheel drive vehicle is required, and access permits will be issued). There is no guarantee that animals will be able to be salvaged. Salvage locations are subject to change:

Sept. 13 at Pu‘u Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at Kilohana check-in station at 7 a.m. sharp.

Sept. 14 at Pu‘u Mali. Permittees must meet across from the Waimea Veterinary office on Mana Road at 6 a.m. sharp.

Contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at (808) 974-4221 or in Kamuela at (808) 887-6063 for additional details regarding meat salvage or access permits.